Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!wuarchive!uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ames!uhccux!goldader
From: goldader@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Jeff Goldader)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: SRB solutions
Keywords: Questions
Message-ID: <5158@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Date: 18 Oct 89 18:14:07 GMT
References: <5474@umd5.umd.edu> <5149@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> <12973@s.ms.uky.edu>
Reply-To: goldader@uhccux.UUCP (Jeff Goldader)
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 25

In article <12973@s.ms.uky.edu> tindle@ms.uky.edu (Ken Tindle) writes:
>I have heard that the SRB joint redesign has heaters and sensors to detect
>hot gases that would signal O-ring failure.
>
>What I wonder is: are said sensors being read by the flight computers with
>the control program itself able to kick off the boosters?

Can't be done.  If you try to sep the boosters before they're supposed
to separate, you'd kill the shuttle with the aerodynamic stress of the
separation.  The system's designed to work... well... the way it's
designed to work.  In the same line of thought, it's impossible to
separate the orbiter from the ET while the SRBs are still firing, since
simulations show that the orbiter would hang up on its aft attach
points, pitch down (um, towards the ground) and break up.  Also, I really
doubt that the orbiter could survive the SRB plumes, anyway.

Jeff Goldader                        University of Hawaii
uhifa.ifa.hawaii.edu                 Institute for Astronomy

"So, Lonestar, now you see that Evil will always win- because Good is stupid."
-The Dark Lord Dark Helmet, _SPACEBALLS_ 

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein are my responsibility alone.  
The University of Hawaii and the Institute for Astronomy neither support 
nor are in *any way* responsible for these opinions.