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From: v055mvw3@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (Gregory J Schaffer)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Liftoff Question
Message-ID: <36104@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU>
Date: 14 Sep 90 12:20:26 GMT
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In article <52900004@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu>, sfn20715@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu writes...
> 
>When the shuttle lifts off, what is used to make it turn and roll?
>(roll/pitch? turn/yaw? you know what I mean...)
>I would assume that the orbiter's aerodynamic surfaces are not used,
>as they are not directly exposed to the air, and its not going

!!!!They AREN'T???!!! What ARE they exposed to?  :)

>_that_ fast when it clears the tower and starts the turn, and I would
>assume that the SSME's are not vectored, right?  Which one of these
>is wrong?

The Space Shuttle's Main Engines have the capability to swivel (I
believe the correct term is GIMBLE), and I think, to a *VERY* small
degree, so can the SRB skirts.


The aerodynamic surfaces (here, the WING)  do produce a force component
opposite in direction to the external tank as the shuttle flies.  I 
don't know if this, or any movement of the rudder, are used in the roll
maneuver.


Greg Schaffer
University at Buffalo
V055MVW3@UBVMS