Path: utzoo!linus!husc6!hao!noao!mcdsun!mcdchg!illusion!marcus
From: marcus@illusion.UUCP (Marcus Hall)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: General Question (shuttle aborts)
Message-ID: <175@illusion.UUCP>
Date: 12 Feb 88 18:03:13 GMT
References: <3a106850.7011@apollo.uucp> <2954@cup.portal.com> <266@scdpyr.UUCP> <1988Feb7.150246.9244@utzoo.uucp> <2023@phred.UUCP>
Reply-To: marcus@illusion.UUCP (Marcus Hall)
Organization: Magic Numbers Software, Bloomingdale, IL
Lines: 18

In article <2023@phred.UUCP> petej@phred.UUCP (Pete Jarvis) writes:
>Henry, there is a procedure for SRB quick-disconnect from the stack.
>I'm told the sequence takes 3 seconds to actually disconnect them.
>
>Peter Jarvis.........Physio-Control......Redmond, Washington

You must be refering to the manual SRB separation control.  This is supposed
to fire the charges that separate the SRBs from the stack in case the
automatic sequencer fails.  Although I guess it is possible to hit this
switch during SRB burn (there are precautions taken against doing this
accidently!), such a separation is not in any of the abort sequences and
would most likely result in one of both SRBs hitting the ET or orbiter on
their own flight path (without guidance) as well as subject the ET to
very high heat from their exhaust plumes.  This is not considered to be
a viable option.

Marcus Hall
..!{ihnp4,mcdchg}!illusion!marcus