Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!rutgers!att!cbnewsl!sw
From: sw@cbnewsl.ATT.COM (Stuart Warmink)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle roll maneuver
Summary: historical, roll not fixed
Message-ID: <2511@cbnewsl.ATT.COM>
Date: 31 Oct 89 18:53:18 GMT
References: <1596SKI@RICEVM1>
Organization: Interface Systems @ AT&T Bell Labs
Lines: 23

David Palkowski writes:
> I understand the reason for the roll maneuver after liftoff based
> on the shuttle's relative postion at launch to that reqired for
> orbital penetration. Question that nags me though, is why not
> position the shuttle and launch assembly so the maneuver can be
> eliminated all togeather ? 

There are (at least) two reasons:

1) The pads are modified Apollo pads, and hence the flame trenches and 
   tower etc. were in fixed positions. They could hardly be moved!

2) The Shuttle's launch direction+ can be up to about 57 degrees North East
   down to about 34 South East, depending on the type of mission flown. 
   These numbers may not be quite correct, but the end result is that
   some kind of roll manouever is required *anyway*.

+ From the Cape

-- 
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Stuart Warmink, Whippany, NJ, USA  |  sw@cbnewsl.ATT.COM  |  Pretentious? Moi?
-------------------------> My opinions are just that <------------------------