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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!rcj
From: rcj@burl.UUCP (Curtis Jackson)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: hold down bolts
Message-ID: <1157@burl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 24-Mar-86 11:31:52 EST
Article-I.D.: burl.1157
Posted: Mon Mar 24 11:31:52 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Mar-86 04:45:51 EST
References: <4619GOT@PSUVMA>
Reply-To: rcj@burl.UUCP (Curtis Jackson)
Organization: AT&T Technologies, Burlington NC
Lines: 24
Summary: 

In article <4619GOT@PSUVMA> GOT@PSUVMA.BITNET writes:
>To my knowledge it is impossible to test an SRB by igniting it on the
>launch pad without actually launching.  Even if the hold down bolts could
>take that much thrust, as soon as the water noise suppression system
>runs out of water (only a couple of seconds) the flame from the SRB's
>would probably be enough to cause catastrophic damage.  To date
>there have only been seven static firings of SRB's, all of which were in
>the horizontal position in special test fixtures.

To my knowledge you are correct, but the info on the water noise suppression
system is not [quite].  The test stands at NSTL (National Space Technology Labs
outside Bay St. Louis) were used to test the main engines (not the SRBs),
and the system there would keep pumping 300,000 gallons per minute for a full-
duration test firing (300 seconds).  So the facilities are present to keep
down flame damage -- but I still don't think that the test stands could
handle the SRB thrust; any other comments on this?

BTW, the test stands used a mock-up of the shuttle with a real fuel tank
attached, not an actual shuttle itself (as you might imagine!).
-- 

The MAD Programmer -- 919-228-3313 (Cornet 291)
alias: Curtis Jackson	...![ ihnp4 ulysses cbosgd allegra ]!burl!rcj
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