Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!crdgw1!uunet!stanford.edu!eos!aio!icarus.jsc.nasa.gov!dbm From: dbm@icarus.jsc.nasa.gov (Brad Mears) Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle Subject: Re: Shuttle computers break down during glide tests Message-ID: <1991May2.200211.2157@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> Date: 2 May 91 20:02:11 GMT References: <1593@philtis.cft.philips.nl> <1991Apr26.111139.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov> Sender: dbm@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Brad Mears) Distribution: sci.space.shuttle Organization: Barrios Technology @ NASA/JSC; Houston Lines: 30 In article , shafer@skipper.dfrf.nasa.gov (Mary Shafer) writes: |> In article <1991Apr30.171707.27685@isc.rit.edu> isg7243@ritvax.isc.rit.edu (GEERTS, IS) writes: |> |> I thought I read in R. Feynmans' book thatthe only thing the pilot did |> during landing was press the button to lower the landing gear, and that |> only to give the idea that humans were really in charge. Anyone know |> for sure? |> |> Either you remember wrong or Feynman is in error. The Shuttle is flown |> by the pilot from about Mach 2 downward. He definitely flies it through |> the HAC, onto final, flares. and lands. The complete reentry was hand |> flown for STS-2 through 5, too. |> |> There is an autoland but nobody uses it. MSBLS, etc. The pilots really |> like to fly it themselves. The interesting point is that "nobody uses it". Other than a few activities which _must_ be performed by the crew, the flight software is capable of flying it all the way to the ground. Why? As far as I can tell, the autoland software is as trustworthy as the rest of it. -- Brad Mears dbm@icarus.jsc.nasa.gov ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Opinions are expressly forbidden. | "It is better to die on your feet I speak for myself and no other. | than live on your knees" | - Dolores Ibarruri ----------------------------------------------------------------------------