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From: kent@vf.jsc.nasa.gov
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle computers (Really, "Drop the landin' gear, Jed!")
Message-ID: <1991May3.111445.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov>
Date: 3 May 91 17:14:45 GMT
References: <1991Apr26.111139.1@vf.jsc.nasa.gov> <1991Apr30.171707.27685@isc.rit.edu> <1991May1.162201.16502@zoo.toronto.edu> <1076@igor.Rational.COM>
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Organization: NASA Johnson Space Flight Center
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> 	* Turbopumps that fail at a hostile glance  
> 

	ever tried buring crygenic Ox and Hydrogen at very high pressure?
	The Shuttle program has never had a turbo pump fail durring powered
flight, some test units failed, but thats why they test them.

> 	* Solid boosters as safe as a $2 skyrocket

	SRB's are not as safe as liquid fueled rockets.  They cost less to
	deveolop and the Shuttle program was on a tight development budget.
> 
> 	* Landing gear that only goes in one direction

	Why do you need to raise the landing gear.  Is the shuttle going to
	wave off and go around again on a landing.? The Landing gear doors have
to close very tightly to keep the heat from re-entry from getting in and
burning up the tires/landing gear.  In fact the doors open with a piro-technic
assist.  


> 
> 
> 	The Shuttle:  "It's got modern, stone-age technologeeee!"
>                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>                        (Sung to the Flintstones Theme)

	I don't think you have enough information to make the kind of
statements you are making.

-- 

Mike Kent -  	Lockheed Engineering and Sciences Company at NASA JSC
		2400 NASA Rd One, Houston, TX 77058 (713) 483-3791
		KENT@vf.jsc.nasa.gov