Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!henry
From: henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Future of the Space Program
Message-ID: <6383@utzoo.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 8-Feb-86 21:01:21 EST
Article-I.D.: utzoo.6383
Posted: Sat Feb  8 21:01:21 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Feb-86 21:01:21 EST
References: <19@<12178969201>, <15700048@uiucdcsb>
Organization: U of Toronto Zoology
Lines: 16

> Challenger was going very close to 2,000 mph, which is above Mach 3. I doubt
> anyone is going to survive ejection into a windstream that's moving that fast.
> I can't really see surviving much over Mach 1.

Most ejection systems are spec'ed for a limit circa Mach 1.  Mind you, that's
where they are officially supposed to be usable, not where you might survive
if you were desperate and had no choice.  Capsule-based systems have been
built for Mach 3, but that's a slightly different story.

I don't *think* anyone has ever tried a Mach 3 ejection.  There have been
supersonic ejections, which usually result in serious injury but have been
survived.  (Not that a *subsonic* ejection is all that safe, mind you...
things like spinal injuries are not uncommon.)
-- 
				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
				{allegra,ihnp4,linus,decvax}!utzoo!henry