barney@skat.usc.edu (Barney Lum) (11/02/88)
Hi All :) In the recent weeks that i started reading this newsgroup, there was a discussion on the shuttle 'walking' on the pad during/after its SSME and (?) SRB ignition. I find it hard to believe that such a 'feature' is designed, or even allowed. There are hold-down clamps on the SRB's that release upon ignition(?). As for the 'twang' that occurs on SSME ignition, i vaguely recall that the orbiter (only) moves vertically along the ET on its mounts by about 18" (heard during a televised launch way-back-when). In article <7459@ihlpl.ATT.COM> knudsen@ihlpl.ATT.COM (Knudsen) writes: > >Today we hear that part of the gantry wouldn't swing back. >I know parts of ours don't swing away until about t-2 minutes. >Our Apollo rockets had gantry supports that swung away at liftoff; >I always wondered what would happen if one of them stuck -- >nothing very humorous I suspect. >Mike Knudsen Bell Labs(AT&T) att!ihlpl!knudsen From what i've seen of our shuttle launches, there is a boom that extends from the gantry to the back (other?) side of the External Tank 1/3rd of a rotation away from the Orbiter towards the gantry, near the area where the O2 and H2 tanks meet. It seems this boom keeps the Shuttle assembly from tipping over (and walking) when the SSME's ignite? Has anyone else seen it or know what i'm referring to? Or is it only providing electrical/communication links till liftoff? Or both? This boom doesn't retract untill SRB ignition... wonder what would happen if it 'stuck'... :} Barney Lum Barney@skat.usc.edu Barney@USCVM.bitnet