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From: adolph@ssc-vax.UUCP (Mark Adolph)
Newsgroups: net.space,net.columbia
Subject: re: Shuttle Ditching
Message-ID: <573@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 21-Feb-86 16:17:23 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.573
Posted: Fri Feb 21 16:17:23 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 24-Feb-86 21:30:57 EST
Distribution: net
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 19
Xref: linus net.space:4499 net.columbia:2043

*** YOUR MESSAGE ***

According to "The Shuttle Operators Manual," any shuttle abort involves
a firing of the OMS engines, both to maintain altitude and airspeed and
to dsipose of dangerous tetrazine fuel.  It seems to me that with the
aeordynamic control due to an airspeed over mach 1 plus the extra push
from the OMS engines, an abort should be possible during the boost phase
of flight.  The only reason I can think of that it wouldn't be possible
is that the g-forces during the maneuver are outside the limitations of
the orbiter's structural strength, much like one shouldn't do outside
loops in a DC-10.

More reliable information about this would be much appreciated.
-- 

					-- Mark A.
					...{uw-beaver|fluke}!ssc-vax!adolph

	"1 + 1 = 1, for sufficiently small values of 1..."