[net.columbia] SRB Tests Inconclusive

alb@alice.UUCP (10/13/83)

Tests on the faulty STS-8 SRB were inconclusive this week,
NASA said, and hopes for a 28 October launch are becoming
very dim.  If postponed, the next available date would
be 28 November, and after that, sometime next February.

alb@alice.UUCP (10/23/83)

What they would do in the event of an SRB malfunction depends
on where they are in the ascent.  If they were to turn around
and attempt a landing at KSC, the entire assembly would probably
be shed and, when they were clear of it, destroyed by range
safety.  If they were high enough to achieve orbit on only the
main engines, just the SRB's would be shed and destroyed.
If they were to try and land at Rota, Spain, or Dakar, Senegal,
they would again need the main engine, so just the SRB's would
be jettisoned.

stephen@alberta (10/25/83)

Does anyone know what sort of simulations have they done for SRB
loss/malfunction have they done for the shuttle and what sort of
recovery techniques have they come up with?

  If the SRB had gone nuts, would they have ejected the SRB's
seperate from the external tank or would they drop the entire
set in one shot?

	Stephen Samuel
	 (alberta!stephen)