Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!mit-eddie!uw-beaver!tikal!phred!petej
From: petej@phred.UUCP (Pete Jarvis)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Crew Escape Mechanisms
Message-ID: <1842@phred.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 18-Nov-87 10:47:18 EST
Article-I.D.: phred.1842
Posted: Wed Nov 18 10:47:18 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Nov-87 11:08:51 EST
References: <843@alliant.Alliant.COM>
Reply-To: petej@phred.UUCP (Pete Jarvis)
Organization: <843@alliant.Alliant.COM>o
Lines: 13

Dave Spain--> There will not be ejection seats installed in the Shuttles.
What they are working on is a rocket escape system that would work during
a controlled glide back to Earth in case they had to do an abort from the
stack after the SRB's have burned out, but before reaching orbit. There
is no possible escape during the first 2 minutes of ascent because of the
loads on the vehicle. The rocket escape system, in short, will propel each
Astronaut out the side hatch in a "controlled" emergency. But this will add
weight and storage problems to the Shuttle. It probably will not be    
incorporated on the first few flights. In fact, I've not heard any more
about this for a long time now. Don't know for sure whether they will have
such a system.

Peter Jarvis - Physio-Control