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From: lmc@cisden.UUCP (Lyle McElhaney)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: SRB's
Message-ID: <511@cisden.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Feb-86 10:43:37 EST
Article-I.D.: cisden.511
Posted: Mon Feb 17 10:43:37 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 19-Feb-86 07:42:25 EST
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> I have a question about the SRB's. The way I understand it is that 
> once the are lit that the continue burning till all of the fuel is 
> consumed. My question is, what happens if only one SRB ignites and the
> other one doesn't. Is there a way to extinguish them on the ground 
> that dosn't apply once the shuttle is in flight.  Also what happens 
> if a SRB accidentaly ignites while the shuttle is being transported
> or is sitting on the lunch pad?

It has always been understood that such a situation on the space shuttle
would be a catastrophic failure. The chances of one SRB not igniting is
pretty low; there are multiple redundant ignitors (the rough equivalent of
shaped charges at the top of the cavity) and starters. But if it happened,
the astronauts are left with the tuck 'n' roll procedure. That's about
all.


Lyle McElhaney
...hao!cisden!lmc