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From: polish@garfield.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: SRBs and Flaps
Message-ID: <1402@garfield.columbia.edu>
Date: Tue, 25-Feb-86 17:30:52 EST
Article-I.D.: garfield.1402
Posted: Tue Feb 25 17:30:52 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 28-Feb-86 08:21:13 EST
Reply-To: polish@garfield.UUCP (Nathaniel Polish)
Organization: Columbia University CS Department
Lines: 16

References:

On the issue of one SRB igniting:

It is very unlikely that this could happen as the the systems used are
very reliable (we've heard  that before.)   If  they  kept the  rocket
bolted down during a situation like this the results would  be as  bad
as not bolting it down.  The vibration supressors (water)  only last a
few seconds so the rocket would be shaken to pieces (even from 3 miles
out the vibration  is substantial.)  In addition, the  heat  build  up
would be very great.  Basically,  abort senerios from  ignition to SRB
separation are no win.

On the issue of flaps:

The rocket controls its course via  gimbals and control  surfaces.  It
is almost all computer controlled and the physics is  very complex and
requires very fast responce.