Discussion
CrutyRammers said:
Eric Mc said:
What is the significance of 32.5 degrees?
I'm guessing, something to do with the re-entry profile?On STS-1, when performing these "s" turns, John Young nearly turned the Orbiter over on its back. It turned out that the Orbiter was producing far more lift at Mach 10-20 than wind tunnel tests had predicted and the fly by wire hand controller was too sensitive.
Eric Mc said:
During re-entry the Orbiter normally assumed a nose up angle - presenting its flat, tiled underside, to the airflow. However, as it came down through the atmosphere it carried out a number of "s" turns to kill off airspeed and height so that they would eventually arrive over the landing site at the correct altitude, direction and speed. Maybe those turns were conducted at a maximum bank angle of 32.5 degrees?
On STS-1, when performing these "s" turns, John Young nearly turned the Orbiter over on its back. It turned out that the Orbiter was producing far more lift at Mach 10-20 than wind tunnel tests had predicted and the fly by wire hand controller was too sensitive.
I was thinking of that sort of thing. Can't check now, but IIRC the initial phase of the reentry was at a crazy bank angle, something like 70 degrees with a lot of nose up (maybe that's the 32 degrees?). The s-turns came after it had slowed down a little.On STS-1, when performing these "s" turns, John Young nearly turned the Orbiter over on its back. It turned out that the Orbiter was producing far more lift at Mach 10-20 than wind tunnel tests had predicted and the fly by wire hand controller was too sensitive.
Went there in 2014 - superb day and a very impressive exhibit. Pictures do it no justice. The sense of scale when seen in the flesh is awe inspiring.
After gawking at it for not long enough, we had to leave to get the bus to the Saturn V site. Walked out of the doors to this....
Name the phenomenon..
PS the Saturn V was equally awe inspiring.
After gawking at it for not long enough, we had to leave to get the bus to the Saturn V site. Walked out of the doors to this....
Name the phenomenon..
PS the Saturn V was equally awe inspiring.
It is a very impressive exhibit. Up close it's much larger than I was expecting.
The facts and figures and the general extremity of every aspect of its engineering is amazing. Especially that around the rocket motors.
The tribute areas to Challenger and Columbia are also very sobering and it really brings it home just how dangerous and quickly it can go wrong.
The facts and figures and the general extremity of every aspect of its engineering is amazing. Especially that around the rocket motors.
The tribute areas to Challenger and Columbia are also very sobering and it really brings it home just how dangerous and quickly it can go wrong.
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