Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!orion.oac.uci.edu!dkrause
From: dkrause@orion.oac.uci.edu (Doug Krause)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: How do they get it pointing up?
Message-ID: <3731@orion.cf.uci.edu>
Date: 29 Nov 89 11:15:28 GMT
References: <1989Nov23.165606.27671@utzoo.uucp> <117.UUL1.3#5131@mvac23.UUCP>
Reply-To: dkrause@orion.oac.uci.edu (Doug Krause)
Organization: University of California, Irvine
Lines: 31

> >And how is the shuttle supported at launch time?  It seems the tank
> >would be too weak to support the weight of the whole rig.
> 
> No, the tank is strong enough.  It has to be.  From assembly to launch,
> the orbiter hangs on the side of the tank and the tank hangs between the
> two SRBs.  Only the bases of the SRBs are supported.

But what if the weight was concentrated on the base of the tank:

          ______
         /      \
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        |        |
        \        /
         --------
            ^
            |------   like about here

Wouldn't that crumble the tank like a Coke can?

Douglas Krause                     One yuppie can ruin your whole day.
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