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From: bl@hplabsb.UUCP (Bruce T. Lowerre)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: SRB's
Message-ID: <3311@hplabsb.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Feb-86 20:27:55 EST
Article-I.D.: hplabsb.3311
Posted: Mon Feb 24 20:27:55 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 07:32:12 EST
References: <699@ihwpt.UUCP> <345@quest.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
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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.
> 
> The shuttle will tip over and explode.

That may happen eventually, but not right away.  The launch vehicle is held
down to the pad until all engines are ignited.  The three main liquid engines
are ignited first, then the SRBs.  If one did not ignite, I suspect the
procedure is to shut down the main engines and not release the vehicle.  The
question is how much the launch structure can take from the heat and forces
of an SRB burn before something lets go.