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To: No Truce With Kings
"You have to opt for an RTLS or a TAL almost immediately after liftoff. Four minutes into the mission and you lose RTLS."

(Besides being such an obnoxious person), You are wrong on both counts.

From the NASA press kit:

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Return to Launch Site

The RTLS abort mode is designed to allow the return of the orbiter, crew, and payload to the launch site, Kennedy Space Center, approximately 25 minutes after lift-off.

The RTLS profile is designed to accommodate the loss of thrust from one space shuttle main engine between lift-off and approximately four minutes 20 seconds, at which time not enough main propulsion system propellant remains to return to the launch site.

An RTLS can be considered to consist of three stages-a powered stage, during which the space shuttle main engines are still thrusting; an ET separation phase; and the glide phase, during which the orbiter glides to a landing at the Kennedy Space Center. The powered RTLS phase begins with the crew selection of the RTLS abort, which is done after solid rocket booster separation. The crew selects the abort mode by positioning the abort rotary switch to RTLS and depressing the abort push button. The time at which the RTLS is selected depends on the reason for the abort. For example, a three-engine RTLS is selected at the last moment, approximately three minutes 34 seconds into the mission; whereas an RTLS chosen due to an engine out at lift-off is selected at the earliest time, approximately two minutes 20 seconds into the mission (after solid rocket booster separation).

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so your rude statement to me: "I suggest you come back to this discussion when you can make informed recommendations,..." has a particular delicious karma to it.

I love it when such a pompous ass is delivered his due.

193 posted on 02/02/2003 8:38:59 PM PST by HighWheeler
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 139 | View Replies ]


To: HighWheeler
"so your rude statement to me: "I suggest you come back to this discussion when you can make informed recommendations,..." has a particular delicious karma to it.

I love it when such a pompous ass is delivered his due."

So do I.

My original statement was "Explain How you opt for a RTLS or a TAL after MECO." The SRBs are not MAIN ENGINES.

The Main Engines are those three things in the back that keep burning *after* SRB Sep. Please explain again -- using small words that I can understand -- what portion of the NASA document you have quoted contradicts my claim that you cannot opt for an RTLS or a TAL after MECO. In fact, I will *broaden* my claim. You cannot opt for an ATO or an AOA after MECO.

But if you can explain how it is done, why then I will be properly humbled. (What were you saying about karma?)
206 posted on 02/02/2003 8:54:41 PM PST by No Truce With Kings (The opinions expressed are mine! Mine! MINE! All Mine!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 193 | View Replies ]

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