Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer)
Subject: Re: Why 3 SSME's?
Message-ID: <1989Sep22.154038.3781@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
References: <24@loop.UUCP> <14647@netnews.upenn.edu>
Date: Fri, 22 Sep 89 15:40:38 GMT

In article <14647@netnews.upenn.edu> rubinoff@linc.cis.upenn.edu (Robert Rubinoff) writes:
>Well, for one thing, it means that if one engine fails, the other two may
>still be able to get the shuttle to orbit.  This has in fact happened at
>least once.  With one engine, if it cuts out, you've got yourself a sub-orbital
>glider.

Or worse.  There are points during the shuttle's ascent where a multi-engine
failure is guaranteed fatal -- there is no possibility of making orbit and
the altitude/speed combination is wrong for a safe reentry.
-- 
"Where is D.D. Harriman now,   |     Henry Spencer at U of Toronto Zoology
when we really *need* him?"    | uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu