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From: joels@tekred.UUCP (Joel Swank)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: SRB Telemetry Clues
Message-ID: <440@tekred.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 5-Feb-86 15:45:32 EST
Article-I.D.: tekred.440
Posted: Wed Feb  5 15:45:32 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Feb-86 20:51:28 EST
References: <8602011714.AA03500@s1-b.arpa>
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 10

> It looks like proper software could have saved the shuttle.  The proper
> course would have been to jettison the SRB's as soon as one acted up.
> Unfortunately, SRB's have varying thrust, so perhaps NASA didn't want
> to jettison one for just a 4% variation.  Even so, the shuttle could
> have tried to get away when all the main engines failed, although it's
> not clear enough time remained for it to get clear.

   The SRBs cannot be jettisoned before burn is complete, and burn cannot
be stopped. One astronaut was quoted as saying: "If the SRBs fail, it's
just curtains."