Chapter 1 - Space Shuttle Overview Flashcards
1
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
NASA
A
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
2
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
STS
A
Space Transportation System
3
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
SRB
A
Solid Rocket Booster
4
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
ET
A
External Fuel Tank
5
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
OMS
A
Orbital Maneuvering System
6
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
RCS
A
Reaction Control System
7
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
RMS
A
Remote Manipulator System
8
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
ESA
A
European Space Agency
9
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
GPS
A
Global Positioning System
10
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
MEDS
A
Multifunction Electronic Display Subsystem
11
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
RCC
A
Reinforced Carbon -Carbon
12
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
SSME
A
Space Shuttle Main Engine
13
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
APU
A
Auxiliary Power Unit
14
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
RSLS
A
Redundant Set Launch Sequencer
15
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
RTLS
A
Return to Launch Site
16
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
KSC
A
Kennedy Space Center
17
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
TAL
A
Transoceanic Abort Landing
18
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
MECO
A
Main Engine Cutoff
19
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
AOA
A
Abort Once Around
20
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
ATO
A
Abort to Orbit
21
Q
What does the following acronym stand for?
CAPCOM
A
Capsule Communicator
22
Q
What is the wing span of the space shuttle?
A
23.79 m / 78.06 ft.
23
Q
What is the length of the space shuttle?
A
37.24 m / 122.17 ft.
24
Q
What is the height of the space shuttle?
A
17.25 m / 56.58 ft.
25
What is the tread width of the space shuttle?
6.91 m / 22.67 ft.
26
What is the gross take off weight?
Variable
27
What is the gross landing weight?
Variable
28
What is the inert weight (approx) of the space shuttle?
74,844 kg / 165,000 lb
29
What is the minimum ground clearance for the Body Flap (aft end)?
3.68 m / 12.07 ft.
30
What is the minimum ground clearance for the Main Gear (door)?
0.87 m / 2.85 ft.
31
What is the minimum ground clearance for the Nose Gear (door)?
0.90 m / 2.95 ft.
32
What is the minimum ground clearance for the Wingtip?
3.63 m / 11.92 ft.
33
Name 2 advantages of the space shuttle?
- reusable spacecraft - could carry large satellites to & from orbit
34
What are the 9 sections of the Shuttle Orbiter structure?
1. Forward Fuselage 2. Forward Reaction Control System Module 3. Mid-Fuselage 4. Payload Bay Doors 5. Aft Fuselage 6. Vertical Tail 7. & 8. Two Orbital Maneuvering Systems/ Reaction Control Modules 9. Wing
35
What was the first space shuttle orbiter delivered to NASA, and when?
Columbia, March 1979
36
What are the names of the 6 space shuttle orbiters?
- Enterprise - Columbia - Challenger - Atlantis - Discovery - Endeavor
37
Which space shuttle never flew in space?
Enterprise
38
How long is a typical space shuttle mission?
7-8 days
39
What is the longest amount of time a space shuttle mission can last?
14 days
40
How much does the shuttle weigh, fully fueled?
4.5 million-pound / 2.05 million kg
41
How far above Earth is the shuttle orbit range?
115 - 400 miles / 185 - 643 km
42
What components are used to lift the shuttle into orbit?
- 2 shuttle rocket boosters (SRB) - 3 main engines of the orbiter - the external fuel tank (ET) - orbital maneuvering system (OMS) on the orbiter
43
What percentage of force or thrust do the SRBs provide to lift the space shuttle off the launch pad?
71%
44
What supports the entire weight of the space shuttle orbiter & the fuel tank on the launch pad?
Shuttle Rocket Boosters (SRBs)
45
What are the 9 parts of the SRBs?
- solid rocket motor - solid propellant fuel - jointed structure - synthetic rubber O-rings & joints - flight instruments - recovery systems: parachutes, floatation devices, signaling devices - explosive charges for separating from the external tank - thrust control systems - self-destruct mechanism
46
Can the SRBs be shut down once they are ignited?
No, because they are solid rocket engines.
47
What is the last component to light at the time of launch?
Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs)
48
What is the length of the solid rocket booster?
149.16 ft / 45.46 m
49
What is the diameter of the solid rocket booster?
12.17 ft. / 3.70 m
50
How many main engines does the orbiter have?
3
51
Where on the orbiter are the main engines located?
aft (back) fuselage)
52
How much do each shuttle engine weigh?
6,700 lb / 3039 kg
53
How much thrust do the main engines provide to lift the shuttle off the launch pad & into orbit?
29%
54
What fuel do the main engines burn?
liquid hydrogen & liquid oxygen
55
Where is the fuel for the main engines stored?
in the external fuel tank (ET)
56
How much thrust can each engine produce?
between 375,000 & 470,000 lbs
57
What are gimbals?
Round bearings that the control the direction of the exhaust.
58
What are the engines mounted on?
gimbals
59
What does the direction of the exhaust control?
the forward direction of the rocket
60
When empty, how much does the ET weight?
78,000 lb / 35,455 kg
61
How much propellant does the ET hold?
1.6 million lb / 719,000 kg
62
What is the ET made of?
aluminum and aluminum composite materials
63
How many tanks are inside the ET?
2
64
What does the forward tank in the ET hold?
oxygen
65
What does the aft tank in the ET hold?
hydrogen
66
What separates the two tanks in the ET?
inter-tank region
67
What covers the ET?
a 1-inch thick layer of spray-on polyisocyanurate foam insulation
68
What does the insulation on the ET do?
- keeps the fuel cold - protects fuel from heat buildup - minimizes ice formation
69
What caused the shuttle Columbia to break up upon re-entry?
Pieces of foam on the ET broke off during take off & damaged the left wing of the orbiter
70
Where are the two orbital maneuvering systems' (OMS) engines located?
on the aft section of the orbiter, one on each side of the tail
71
What do the OMS engines do?
- place the shuttle into final orbit - change the shuttle's position from one orbit to another - slow the shuttle down for re-entry
72
What do the OMS engines burn?
monomethyl hydrazine fuel & nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer
73
What gas pressurizes the tanks holding the fuel & the oxidizer in the OMS engines?
helium
74
In each fuel line in the OMS, there are 2 solenoid valves that close the lines. What opens these valves?
pressurized nitrogen gas from a small tank near the engine
75
When the OMS valves are opened, what happens?
allows the fuel and oxidizer to flow into the combustion chamber of the engine
76
How are unwanted explosions / accidents prevented in the OMS engines?
After the OMS engines are shut off, nitrogen gas goes from the valves to the fuel lines to flush the lines of any remaining fuel & oxidizer
77
During a single flight, there is enough nitrogen to open the valves in the OMS engines & purge the lines how many times?
10
78
Do both of the OMS engines have to fire at the same time?
no
79
How much thrust can each OMS engine produce?
6,000 lbs / 26,400 N
80
What is the acceleration rate attributed by both of the OMS engines?
2 ft/s^2
81
How many times can the OMS engines start and stop?
1,000
82
What is the total hours of burn time for the OMS engines?
15 hours
83
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T minus 31 s
onboard computers take over the launch sequence
84
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T minus 6.6 s
- shuttle's main engines ignite one at a time - main engines build up to more than 90% of max thrust
85
How far apart, in time, do the main engines ignite?
0.12 s
86
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T minus 3 s
shuttle main engines are in lift-off position
87
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T minus 0 s
the SRBs are ignited, and the shuttle lifts off the pad
88
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 20 s
the shuttle rolls right (180-degree roll, 78-degree pitch)
89
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 60 s
shuttle engines are at max throttle
90
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 2 min
- SRBs separate from the orbiter & fuel tank - main engines continue firing - parachutes deploy from SRBs
91
At what altitude do the SRBs separate from the orbiter & fuel tank?
28 miles
92
Where do SRBs land after separation?
in the ocean ab out 140 miles off the FL coast
93
How are the SRBs recovered from the ocean?
Ships recover them & tow them back to Cape Canaveral from processing and re-use
94
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 7.7 min
main engines throttle down to keep acceleration below 3g's
95
Why must the acceleration of the orbiter remain below 3g's during take off?
to keep the shuttle from breaking apart
96
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 8.5 min
main engine shut down
97
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 9 min
ET separates from the orbiter
98
What happens to the ET after it separates from the orbiter?
burns up on re-entry
99
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 10.5 min
OMS engines fire to place the shuttle in a low orbit
100
# What happens at the following time, relative to launch?
T plus 45 min
OMS engines fire to place the shuttle in a higher, circular orbit
101
What is the distance from earth of the higher, circular orbit?
about 250 miles / 400 km
102
How long can the astronauts live in the shuttle orbiter in space?
7-14 days
103
Why is the opening of the cargo bay doors one of the first things the commander of the shuttle will do?
to cool the orbiter
104
In what part of the orbiter do the astronauts live?
crew compartment
105
What part of the orbiter contains support equipment (fuel cells, gas tanks) for the crew compartment?
forward fuselage
106
What part of the orbiter contains forward rocket jets for turning the orbiter in various directions?
forward reaction control system (RCS) module
107
What part of the orbiter is used for spacewalks and can be placed inside the crew compartment or inside the cargo bay?
movable airlock
108
What part of the orbiter contains essential parts (gas tanks, wiring, etc.) to connect the crew compartment with the aft engines; forms the floor of the cargo bay?
mid-fuselage
109
What part of the orbiter is the roof of the cargo bay and is essential for cooling the orbiter?
cargo bay doors
110
What part of the orbiter is located in the cargo bay, moves large pieces of equipment in and out of the cargo bay, and is a platform for spacewalking astronauts?
remote manipulator arm
111
What part of the orbiter contains the main engines?
aft fuselage
112
What part of the orbiter contains the orbital maneuvering engines and the aft RCS module; turns the orbiter; changes orbits?
OMS/RCS pods
113
How many OMS / RCS pods are on the orbiter?
2
114
What part of the orbiter flys the orbiter upon landing (wings, tail, body flap)?
airplane parts of the orbiter
115
What part of the orbiter is the crew compartment located in?
forward fuselage
116
How many decks does the crew compartment have?
3
117
What are the 3 decks of the crew compartment?
- flight deck (uppermost deck) - mid-deck - lower deck (equipment bay)
118
How much space does the crew have if the airlock is located outside the fuselage?
2,625 cu.ft.
119
What is located on the flight deck of the crew compartment?
- forward deck (cockpit) - seats (commander, pilot, & 2 specialist seats) - aft deck (contains the controls for orbital operations)
120
What is located on the mid-deck of the crew compartment?
- living quarters (galley, sleeping bunks, toilet) - stowage compartments - exercise equipment - airlock - on some flights - entry hatch
121
What is located on the lower deck of the crew compartment?
life support equipment, electrical systems, etc...
122
What life support systems does the shuttle orbiter provide?
- atmosphere control, supply, & recycling - water - temperature control - light - food supply - waste removal - fire protection
123
Can the shuttle orbiter make its own electrical power?
Yes
124
What gases make up Earth's atmosphere?
nitrogen, oxygen, other gases
125
Does the space shuttle atmosphere need to be similar to our atmosphere on Earth?
yes
126
What percentage of nitrogen is in our atmosphere on Earth?
78%
127
What percentage of oxygen is in our atmosphere on Earth?
21%
128
How is Earth's atmosphere duplicated on the shuttle?
Two systems of pressurized tanks carry liquid nitrogen & liquid oxygen. The cabin pressurization system combines the gases in the correct mixture at normal atmospheric pressure.
129
What pressure is Earth's atmosphere?
14 lb / in^2 (1 atm)
130
How many loops of fans circulate the atmosphere on the shuttle?
5
131
What removes the carbon dioxide by reacting it with lithium hydroxide?
chemical carbon dioxide canisters
132
How often are the chemical carbon dioxide canisters changed?
every 11 hours
133
What removes trace odors, dust, and volatile chemicals from leaks, spills, & outgassing on the shuttle?
filters and charcoal canisters
134
What cools the air and condenses the moisture?
cabin heat exchanger
135
Where is the condensed moisture from the shuttles atmosphere collected?
in a slurper
136
What does the slurper do?
moves the water to a fan separator which uses centrifugal force to separate water from air
137
What happens to the separated air that is removed from the slurper?
it is recirculated into the shuttle.
138
What happens to the separated water that is removed from the slurper?
It is sent to the wastewater tank.
139
Where is water made on the space shuttle?
in the fuel cells
140
What is used to make water on the space shuttle?
liquid oxygen & hydrogen
141
How much water can the fuel cells make per hour?
25 lb. / 11 kg
142
Where is the water made on the shuttle stored?
in four water storage tanks located in the lower deck.
143
How much water can each water storage tank hold?
165 lb / 75 kg
144
What is the largest issue regarding temperature control on the orbiter?
getting rid of excess heat
145
What are the 2 main functions of the temperature control system?
1. distribute heat where it is needed on the orbiter so vital systems do not freeze 2. get rid of excess heat
146
What are the two methods used to handle temperature control?
passive & active
147
What are examples of passive temperature control methods?
simple methods such as: - insulating materials - surface coatings - paints - electrical heaters
148
What is the definition of active temperature control methods?
more complex methods that require fluid to handle large heat loads and require maintenance
149
What are examples of active temperature control methods?
- cold plates - heat exchangers - radiators - flash evaporator Freon coolant loops
150
Where is food stored in the crew compartment?
in the mid-deck
151
In what forms is food kept on the space shuttle?
- dehydrated - low moisture - heat-stabilized - irradiated - natural and fresh
152
What is the orbiter kitchen module equipped with?
- food storage compartments - food warmers - food prep area - metal trays (keep packages and utensils from floating away)
153
What do the astronauts use for general housekeeping?
- various types of wipes - detergents - wet/dry vacuum cleaners
154
What do the astronauts do with trash?
separate it into wet trash bags & dry trash bags
155
What happens to solid waste from the toilet?
it is compacted, dried, stored in bags, and returned to Earth for disposal (burning)
156
What 5 components make up the Fire Detection and Suppression Subsystem on the orbiter?
- area smoke detectors on each deck - smoke detectors in each rack of electrical equipment - alarms and warning lights in each module - non-toxic portable fire extinguishers (CO2- based) - personal breathing apparatus - mask & oxygen bottle for each crew member
157
What system filters the air to remove particulates and toxic substances after a fire is extinguished on the orbiter?
atmosphere control system
158
What happens to the liquid waste from the toilet?
sent to wastewater tank and dumped overboard
159
What does the shuttle use to deploy and retrieve satellites & deliver payloads to Earth's orbit?
Remote Manipulator System (RMS)
160
What is the RMS?
a long arm with an elbow and wrist joint that can be controlled from the aft flight deck
161
What fit in the carbo bay & was built by the ESA to conduct experiments in space?
Spacelab module
162
What happened to the Spacelab module?
it was lost in 2003 along with Columbia
163
Where are experiments in space performed now?
aboard the International Space Station
164
What was the shuttle's major role?
to build & re-supply the International Space Station
165
What is used to change the direction that the orbiter is pointed (attitude)?
reaction control system (RCS)
166
Where is the RCS located?
on the nose and OMS pods of the aft fuselage
167
How many jets does the RCS have to move the orbiter along each axis or rotation?
14
168
What are the 3 axes of rotation?
- pitch - roll - yaw
169
Why are attitude changes required on the shuttle?
for deploying satellites or for point instruments at the Earth or stars
170
How often do astronauts talk with flight controllers on the ground?
daily
171
Why do the astronauts talk with flight controllers on the ground?
for daily routine operation of the mission
172
Where is NASA's Mission Control located?
Houston, TX
173
What is the path of signals being sent from Mission Control to the space shuttle & vice versa?
Mission Control in Houston, TX - to - Radio antenna at White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico - to - a pair of Tracking and Data Relay satellites in orbit 22,300 miles above Earth - to - space shuttle
174
What two systems does the orbiter have for communicating with the ground?
- S-band - Ku-band
175
What is S-band communication used for?
- voice - commands - telemetry - data files
176
What is Ku-band communication used for?
- video - transferring 2-way data files
177
What frequency is used to talk with space walkers?
UHF
178
What does the orbiter use to know where it is in space and how fast it is moving?
global positioning system (GPS)
179
Where does the electricity required to run the onboard systems come from?
3 fuel cells located in the mid-fuselage under the payload bay
180
How many onboard computers does the orbiter have to handle data processing and to control critical flight systems?
5
181
What is a MEDS?
Multifunction Electronic Display Subsystem - full color, flat, 11-panel display system
182
What is the MEDS also known as?
glass cockpit
183
What does the MEDS provide?
graphic portrayals of key light indicators (attitude, altitude, speed)
184
Where is the landing site for the space shuttle?
Kennedy Space Center, Edwards Air Force Base, FL
185
When Mission Control give the shuttle the command to come home, what 4 things are the crew prompted to do?
- close the cargo bay doors & fire the RCS to turn the orbiter tail first - once tail first, the crew fires the OMS engines to slow the orbiter - fire the RCS thrusters to pitch the orbiter over so the bottom of the orbiter faces the atmosphere and are moving nose first again - burn leftover fuel from the forward RCS as a safety precaution
186
How long does it take for the shuttle to reach the upper atmosphere?
approx 25 mins
187
What pitch does the orbiter need to be when it faces the atmosphere before re-entry?
about 40 degrees
188
Why is the leftover fuel burned off of the forward RCS before re-entry?
because this area encounters the highest heat of re-entry
189
How fast is the orbit moving before it returns to Earth?
Approximately 17,000 mph (28,000 km/h)
190
What is the orbiter covered with to protect it from the heat from friction on re-entry?
ceramic insulating materials
191
What insulating materials cover the wing surfaces and underside?
reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC)
192
What insulating materials cover the upper forward fuselage and around the windows?
high-temperature black surface insulation tiles
193
What insulating materials cover the upper payload bay doors, portions of the upper wing, and mid/aft fuselage?
white Nomex blankets
194
What insulating materials cover the areas of the shuttle not covered by RCC, high-temp black surface tiles, or white Nomex blankets?
low-temperature white surface tiles
195
How much heat does the orbiter build up from friction on re-entry?
approx 3000 degrees F / 1650 degrees C
196
What is the importance of the ceramic insulating materials?
to absorb large quantities of heat without increasing their temperature
197
What attitude does the orbiter need to be at during re-entry?
40-degree
198
What help to keep the orbiter at the proper attitude during re-entry?
aft steering jets
199
What is it called when hot ionized gases of the atmosphere surrounding the orbiter prevent radio communication with the ground for about 12 minutes?
ionization blackout
200
Once re-entry is successful & the orbiter encounters the main air of the atmosphere, how does the shuttle fly?
like an airplane, piloted by flight computers
201
Who flies the shuttle once it reaches 25 miles from the landing site?
the commander
202
How far away from the landing site is the orbiter when the commander picks up a radio beacon from the runway?
about 140 miles
203
At what angle of descent does the shuttle reach on final approach?
minus 20 degrees (7x steeper than a commercial airliner)
204
At what distance above the ground does the commander pull up the nose to slow the rate of descent?
2,000 ft
205
Who deploys the landing gear during descent?
the pilot
206
Once the shuttle touches down, what is deployed from the back of the orbiter to help stop the orbiter?
a parachute
207
How far down the runway does the orbiter travel before it stops?
about midway to three-quarters of the way down the runway
208
How long does it take the crew to go through the shutdown procedures to power down the spacecraft after it lands?
about 20 minutes
209
While the orbiter is powering down, what is happening to the orbiter?
it is cooling & noxious gases made during re-entry are blown away
210
When an emergency occurs during a shuttle mission, whose role is it to evaluate the event and triage the process?
Mission Control
211
What is the primary focus of Mission Control during an emergency?
the safety of the crew
212
What can happen during an emergency (anomaly) that Mission Control has to manage and reduce?
the potential to over-complicate the situation
213
What must the crew and Mission Control depend on during an emergency?
- individual & team capabilities - training - assigned roles
214
What is the worst possible outcome of an emergency?
"Mission Abort"
215
What is a space shuttle abort procedure?
an emergency procedure needed due to equipment failure on the space shuttle
216
How many abort modes are available during ascent?
five
217
What was the most commonly expected problem to cause an abort mode?
Main Engine failure
218
What would Main Engine failure cause?
inability to either cross the Atlantic or to acheieve orbit
219
What are other non-engine failures that would result in an abort?
- multiple auxiliary power unit (APU) failure - cabin leak - external tank leak (ullage leak)
220
What does RSLS stand for?
Redundant Set Launch Sequencer
221
What is a RSLS abort?
An abort that takes place between T-6.6 s & T-0 s. -when the main engines can still be shut down
222
How often has RSLS abort happened?
five
223
Of the RSLS aborts that have occured, who/what has controlled the abort?
computer control (having sensed a problem with the main engines after starting but before SRB ignition)
224
Once the SRBs are ignited, can RSLS abort still occur?
No
225
At what point after SRB ignition can an abort option be applied?
after SRB burnout which occurs at 123 seconds
226
How many intact abort modes are there?
four
227
What is an intact abort mode?
aborts designed to provide a safe return of the orbiter to a planned landing site or to a lower orbit than intended for the mission
228
What are the four intact abort modes?
- Return to Launch Site (RTLS) - Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL) - Abort Once Around (AOA) - Abort to Orbit (ATO)
229
In Return to Launch Site (RTLS), what would the shuttle do?
continue downrange until the SRBs were jettisoned
230
In RTLS, how long do the main engines continue burning?
until the downrange velocity was killed & the vehicle began heading back toward the launch site at a sufficient velocity to reach a runway
231
In RTLS, about how long does it take the orbiter to land back at Kenneday Space Center?
about 25 minutes
232
At one point after lift-off is RTLS no longer an option?
about 4 minutes after lift-off
233
If all 3 main engines failed, during RTLS, would the shuttle be able to make it back to the runway at Kennedy Space Center (KSC)?
no
234
In the event of all three space shuttle main engine (SSME) failure, what would the crew do?
bail out - loss of shuttle
235
Was the RTLS abort ever used in the history of the shuttle program?
no
236
In Transoceanic Abort Landing (TAL), what would the shuttle do?
land at a predetermined location in Africa or western Europe about 25-30 minutes after lift-off
237
Why would the TAL be used instead of the RTLS option?
- when velocity, altitude, and distance downrange did not allow return to launch point - when less time-critical failure did not require the faster RTLS option
238
At what time interval would TAL occur?
between roughly T+ 2:30 min after liftoff & about T+8:30 mins - main engine cutoff (MECO)
239
Name the last 4 TAL sites prior to the shuttles retirement.
- Istres Air Base, France - Zaragoza air base, Spain - Moron air base, Spain - RAF Fairford, England
240
How many TAL sites were named for each mission?
two
241
When do preparations begin at a TAL site prior to launch?
a week before launch
242
How long do preparations at a TAL site take prior to launch?
about 4 - 5 days
243
Who prepared the TAL site for readiness prior to a launch?
primarily NASA personnel and the Department of Defense
244
Was the TAL abort procedure ever needed in the history of the shuttle program?
no
245
What type of medical personnel were deployed to the TAL sites prior to launch?
- 9 para-rescuemen - 2 flight surgeons - 1 nurse - 1 medical technician
246
When was Abort Once Around (AOA) abort used?
when the shuttle could not reach a stable orbit but had sufficient velocity to circle the earth once & land
247
About how long did it take the shuttle to land in AOA?
about 90 minutes after lift-off
248
How likely is AOA? Why?
Very unlikely; the time window is very short between TAL & ATO abort opportunities
249
Was AOA ever used in the history of the shuttle program?
no
250
What is ATO abort opportunity?
when the intended orbit could not be reached, but a lower stable orbit was possible
251
Was ATO ever used in the history of the shuttle program?
yes, once
252
Why did mission control have to call ATO on mission STS-51-F?
Mission Control Center in Houston, TX observed a space shuttle main engine (SSME) failure
253
Where is Mission Control Center in Houston, TX located?
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
254
What is the moment at which an ATO became possible referred to as?
the "press to ATO" moment
255
What happened in an ATO situation?
-spacecraft commander rotated the cockpit abort mode switch to the ATO position & depressed the abort push button
256
Can the commander make abort decisions & take control if communications with mission control are lost?
yes
257
How were emergency landing sites determined for the orbiter?
they were pre-determined on a mission-by-mission basis according to: -mission profile - weather - regional political situations
