Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!athena.mit.edu!daveb
From: daveb@athena.mit.edu (Dave Balkwill)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Launch question
Message-ID: <1990Sep18.163153.29103@athena.mit.edu>
Date: 18 Sep 90 16:31:53 GMT
References: <3423@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov>
Sender: daemon@athena.mit.edu (Mr Background)
Reply-To: daveb@space.mit.edu (Dave Balkwill)
Organization: MIT Center for Space Research
Lines: 21

Thinking about things in a cylindrical coordinate reference frame fixed with
the structure, it would seem (IMHO) that the aerodynamic stresses, lift 
vectors, and centres of stress and thrust are all the same (relative to 
each other) independent of the roll.  The only things that seems to change 
is the direction of gravity, unless of course there's a real nasty cross 
wind.  Is the effect of gravity really that stressful?  Or am I missing
something here?

Three things that were brought up that do make immediate sense are:
1. The pilot has ground and horizon visual references.
2. ET does not block direct communications between shuttle and ground.
3. It's got to roll "upside down" sooner or later, since that's the way it
orbits (if I remember correctly).

What have I missed?

--
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| "In Sweden, we play soccer in weather like this, in shorts." |
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-----  DISCLAIMER:  Of course they're only my opinions! --------