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From: oliver@vf.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Launching a Space Shuttle
Message-ID: <1991May1.144347.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov>
Date: 1 May 91 20:43:47 GMT
References: <1991Apr26.154621.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov> <7738@testeng1.misemi>
Sender: news@aio.jsc.nasa.gov (USENET News System)
Organization: NASA Johnson Space Flight Center
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> In article <1991Apr26.154621.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov> oliver@vf.jsc.nasa.gov writes:
>> Also, the crew is not allowed to spend more than 2 1/2 hours on
>>their backs before launch, so when the crew is inserted into the Orbiter plays
>>a port as to how long the hold times can be extended.
> 
> I am interested in this 2.5 hour time limit for the crew. Has this
> always existed for manned flights? I thought that some of the early
> manned flights had the crew in the capsule (long time ago!) for
> longer than 2.5 hours prior to lift-off. Also, this limit must have an
> effect on the actual launch window. No matter how long the launch
> window is, if the crew are in the orbiter, then the launch window ends
> .5 hours after the scheduled lift-off (the crew enters 2 hours before
> lift-off, right?). So, am I right about the above? Any of it? Facts
> are welcome, flames are pointless.

I must apologize for the misleading way the first statement was written.  The
crew is allowed to remain on their backs for 2.5 hours after the nominal 
liftoff time.  The actual time that the crew is strapped in could be 4.5 hours
or so depending on when they entered the spacecraft.
-- 

Pat Oliver -  	Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company at NASA JSC
		2400 NASA Rd One, Houston, TX 77058 (713) 483-3323
		OLIVER@vf.jsc.nasa.gov