Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!dftsrv!nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov!karyn
From: karyn@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov (Karen C. Pichnarczyk)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: re: Launch question
Message-ID: <3423@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Date: 14 Sep 90 19:01:22 GMT
Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov
Reply-To: karyn@nssdca.gsfc.nasa.gov
Lines: 15

About why the shuttle turns as it launches:

I haven't followed the entire discussion, but my non-scientific
instincts say that if the shuttle didn't fly upside down, wouldn't
the force of gravity tend to want to turn the whole shuttle 
(tanks and all) into the 'upside down' position?  So the shuttle
does it manually so that gravity won't mess with the trajectory.
I would think if the angle of ascent wasn't so great, the problem 
wouldn't be so pronounced.

Karyn

Disclaimer:  Remember, this is from someone who has had absolutely
no physics or higher science (excluding computer science) since
high school.  Don't make too much fun of me.