On Sun, 02 Feb 2003 00:59:04 +0100, Christian Mayer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
> Arnt Karlsen wrote: > > > > On Sat, 1 Feb 2003 22:07:48 -0000, > > "Jim Wilson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > > > Jon Berndt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said: > > > > > > > > > > > During ascent there was some ice that broke loose and impacted > > > > the left wing underside near the elevon and the ice chunk > > > > disintegrated on impact. There was some concern that the > > > > protective tiles that cover the surfaces which are exposed to > > > > the most heat during reentry might have been damaged. That > > > > concern was addressed and dismissed by NASA before entry. > > > > However, in hindsight, perhaps that might end up being viewed as > > > > premature. There are other "criticality 1" items that could have > > > > played into this, though. > > > > > > > > > > No doubt now that the focus will be on the left wing. But I'm > > > wondering, is there anything that could have been done had the > > > assessment gone the other way? > > > > > > ..heavy sigh... > > > > ..I don't know, but we could try model it right now, to see if there > > _are_ viable options, such as abandoning the launch, jettisoning the > > tank and boosters somewhere (out towards the sea) and return for a > > rather prompt landing, it would have prevented re-entry heat loads > > to the airframe. > > Dunno, prpbably their energy wasn't enough, but couldn't they try to > make it to the IIS and use a Progress (IIRC) to make it back, if they > figured out that this shuttle wasn't save enough to return? ..assuming the orbits were close enough, would it work for 10 people? ..I'm talking about modelling the _launch_, we _have_ the re-entry (tentatively) modelled. Then, it would be possible to play the what-if games, such as aborting the launch, jettison the boosters and fuel tank, and possibly shoot touch-and-go's with the onboard fuel meant for leaving the athmosphaere and initial re-entry. -- ..med vennlig hilsen = with Kind Regards from Arnt... ;-) ...with a number of polar bear hunters in his ancestry... Scenarios always come in sets of three: best case, worst case, and just in case. _______________________________________________ Flightgear-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://mail.flightgear.org/mailman/listinfo/flightgear-devel
