35 Years ago today - Columbia STS1
Discussion
To be fair to the vehicle though, it was 2 vehicle failures out of 135 missions. The fact it carried seven crew (rather than 2 or 3 on the other launch vehicles) makes it look somewhat worse than it was.
Soyuz (the capsule) had 2 failures in 11 missions, killing 4. While since then it has been unblemished, it has not yet reached 135 missions, so if it had been a 7-person capsule it would have the same number of fatalities.
Soyuz (the capsule) had 2 failures in 11 missions, killing 4. While since then it has been unblemished, it has not yet reached 135 missions, so if it had been a 7-person capsule it would have the same number of fatalities.
Flooble said:
b
hstewie said:
hstewie said: Always wondered if the ejector seats worked in space.
What ejector seats? The ones they took out the shuttle after the first four missions?I'd assume there was some technical mechanism that would stop you firing them whilst in orbit.
I think the technical mechanism is probably "I don't want to die".
The in-atmosphere envelope for using them was pretty limited; no use to Colombia even if they had been retained (too high, too fast, too hot) and Robert Crippen wasn't expecting to survive an ejection during ascent either (SRB plume would burn you up): http://www.space.com/11350-space-shuttle-pilot-bob...
Is that the question you were asking?
Edit: Just seen you mentioned "in orbit". Not sure what you would expect the astronaut to do after ejecting from the spacecraft in orbit - their pressure suits would not have been able to keep them alive.
The in-atmosphere envelope for using them was pretty limited; no use to Colombia even if they had been retained (too high, too fast, too hot) and Robert Crippen wasn't expecting to survive an ejection during ascent either (SRB plume would burn you up): http://www.space.com/11350-space-shuttle-pilot-bob...
Is that the question you were asking?
Edit: Just seen you mentioned "in orbit". Not sure what you would expect the astronaut to do after ejecting from the spacecraft in orbit - their pressure suits would not have been able to keep them alive.
bhstewie said:
hstewie said: I get that, read that interview before 
I mean literally, technically, cold hard factually was there anything to stop them firing them in space.
Strange thing to wonder, but something I always wondered
Unfortunately I'm not qualified to say. Although I can see no reason explosive bolts and rockets would not work in space ... I mean literally, technically, cold hard factually was there anything to stop them firing them in space.Strange thing to wonder, but something I always wondered
Explosive bolts and other pyrotechnics are used in the vacuum of space all the time. Indeed, it is how stages are separated, shrouds are jettisoned etc.
As for the Shuttle's ejector seats, they would have been "safed" once they got into orbit and then made live again as part of the pre de-orbit burn preparations prior to re-entry.
As has been mentioned, the ejection seats fitted on the Shuttle's first four flights could only be used in a very narrow range of circumstances. It was assumed that any use during launch would be fatal. The only "window" where they could be used safely was if the Orbiter had some control problems in the last five or so minutes of glide flight prior to landing.
The suits worn by the crews in early Shuttle missions were aircraft pressure suits (not space suits) and were actually very similar to the suits worn by SR-71 and U-2 pilots. They would protect the crew if the cabin depressurised for any reason, but they could not be worn in the vacuum of space. They didn't have an independent air supply for start, not having any sort of backpack life support system.
For later Shuttle flights, the crews wore only lightweight flight suits and motor cycle style crash helmets. After the Challenger accident, they reverted to proper pressure suits for launch and re-entry.
As for the Shuttle's ejector seats, they would have been "safed" once they got into orbit and then made live again as part of the pre de-orbit burn preparations prior to re-entry.
As has been mentioned, the ejection seats fitted on the Shuttle's first four flights could only be used in a very narrow range of circumstances. It was assumed that any use during launch would be fatal. The only "window" where they could be used safely was if the Orbiter had some control problems in the last five or so minutes of glide flight prior to landing.
The suits worn by the crews in early Shuttle missions were aircraft pressure suits (not space suits) and were actually very similar to the suits worn by SR-71 and U-2 pilots. They would protect the crew if the cabin depressurised for any reason, but they could not be worn in the vacuum of space. They didn't have an independent air supply for start, not having any sort of backpack life support system.
For later Shuttle flights, the crews wore only lightweight flight suits and motor cycle style crash helmets. After the Challenger accident, they reverted to proper pressure suits for launch and re-entry.
I was there, aged 8, my parents took us to Florida for two weeks and the trip was designed so we'd watch the launch on April 10th, when it was scheduled. Unfortunately it was delayed, we flew back on the 11th so we missed it. I still have the books from the space centre.
Had I seen that I would have gone back to watch the last one.
Had I seen that I would have gone back to watch the last one.
Gassing Station | Science! | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff