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From: lwe3207@acf4.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Shuttle Main Engine stats request
Message-ID: <11700005@acf4.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Apr-84 19:43:00 EST
Article-I.D.: acf4.11700005
Posted: Tue Apr 17 19:43:00 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Apr-84 08:32:40 EST
Organization: New York University
Lines: 23
Nf-ID: #N:acf4:11700005:000:1039


Nf-From: acf4!lwe3207    Apr 17 19:43:00 1984


[]

Someone noted that the Shuttle doesn't use its main engines for
de-orbit burn.  I thought it would because I thought the RMS was
used primarily for direction-changing.  Which is used for "station-
keeping", i.e., in-orbit altitude changes?  How much fuel is actually
on-board for the main engines, and what does that translate to in
full-power burn time (or some other useful metric)?  What percentage
do the main engines contribute to the thrust required to achieve
orbit?  (I assumed that the solid rockets provided the majority.)

Someone told me that the Shuttle can't fly level, and that it doesn't
have enough lift to take off horizontally, even if it had the necessary
thrust.  Is this true?  If not, what are the actual "back-of-the-envelope"
estimates for the amount of main engine fuel required for the Shuttle
to take off horizontally under its own power?  Does it "break even"?:
i.e., would the poundage of fuel required to make it take off make
it too heavy to take off?

Just curious,

Lars Ericson
..cmcl2!acf4!lwe3207