Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-lcc!ames!pioneer!eugene
From: eugene@pioneer.arpa (Eugene N. Miya)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Shuttle Escape Systems
Message-ID: <7971@ames.arpa>
Date: 27 Apr 88 20:01:45 GMT
References: <47316@ti-csl.CSNET> <1895@ur-tut.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ames.arpa
Reply-To: eugene@pioneer.UUCP (Eugene N. Miya)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif.
Lines: 21

>COST

You made an excellent summary (noting that you tried not to be too harsh).
What I might add also is that the costs are not just monetary.  Escape
systems like pods are complex and heavy.  Their records are not perfect.
Perhaps in later launch systems.

Note that the X-1 didn't have provisions for escape until late in it's
life.  Nor for that matter commercial aircraft, helicopters, etc.  Note: I
wore a parachute when soaring, but it does not function like a life vest
when I go sailing.  Sport jumping is a completely different thing from an
emergency which is one reason why pilots are not really prepared for jumping
either.  You must have some admiration for test pilots.

Another gross generalization from

--eugene miya, NASA Ames Research Center, eugene@ames-aurora.ARPA
				soon to be aurora.arc.nasa.gov
at the Rock of Ages Home for Retired Hackers:
  "Mailers?! HA!"
  {uunet,hplabs,hao,ihnp4,decwrl,allegra,tektronix}!ames!aurora!eugene
  "Send mail, avoid follow-ups.  If enough, I'll summarize."