Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!rutgers!ames!amdcad!sun!pitstop!texsun!texsun.central-relay.sun.com!convex!authorplaceholder
From: sheppard@convex.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: General Question (shuttle abort
Message-ID: <66400001@convex>
Date: 13 Feb 88 21:43:00 GMT
References: <175@illusion.UUCP>
Lines: 19
Nf-ID: #R:illusion.UUCP:-17500:convex:66400001:000:889
Nf-From: convex.UUCP!sheppard    Feb 13 15:43:00 1988


Yes, there is indeed a manual SRB separation switch in the shuttle. It's
actually two switches, one is an arm (enable) switch, the other is the
actual separation switch. Both are located on panel C3 (center, between
the commander/pilot seats), in a deeply recessed slot about where the
pilot's hand would be if he were resting it on the panel. It would be
quite difficult to perform a manual sep accidently.

Manual SRB sep is definitely NOT an option while the SRB's are still
burning. Since directional control for them comes from the shuttle itself,
once separated they could very likely cause the problem that we've already
seen. Of course, if the alternative is to lose an orbiter crew if it isn't
done, it probably can't hurt. What I don't know is if manual sep is locked
out until after SRB burnout...


Andy Sheppard
Convex Computer Corporation
{ihnp4,sun,uiucdcs}!convex!sheppard