All Questions
Tagged with launch-escape-system safety
7 questions
1
vote
2
answers
650
views
Is a low-altitude, stable glide really absolutely needed to bail out of the space shuttle?
After the Challenger disaster, the Space Shuttle astronauts were outfitted with pilot spacesuits equipped with parachutes and internal emergency oxygen supplies, and the space shuttle was equipped ...
- 9,517
3
votes
1
answer
320
views
Why not turn off the main engines while using the launch escape system on liquid fuelled engines?
I've seen a couple of launch escape systems firing and the rockets main engines are on, isn't it more safe if you turn off the engines? Edit: i agree that the engines turning off might be not so ...
- 31
0
votes
2
answers
165
views
How would a landing escape system be designed? [duplicate]
Launch escape systems have been used for half a century and have worked great when tried. But entering Earth's atmosphere from orbit and landing is at least as dangerous to astronauts, and have cause ...
- 27k
8
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Were ejection seats on the Space Shuttle a practical safety system?
The first four STS missions were flown by Columbia with two pilots and had ejection seats as an option. These seats were eventually disabled (by STS 5) and removed (by STS-61-C). They could only be ...
- 2,900
10
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Why were ejection seats used in Project Gemini instead of a tower escape system?
In Project Gemini, the Titan II GLV space rocket used as fuel hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide, so safety concerns over its toxic propellants were present. But along with the special care that was ...
- 2,145
8
votes
1
answer
672
views
When have astronauts been launched without launch escape system (tower)?
The Vostok spacecraft used by Yuri Gagarin seems to have had an "ejection seat". The Soyuz launcher has an escape tower, which at least once saved its crew. The space shuttle of course did not have ...
- 27k
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What exactly does it mean to human-rate a rocket? As opposed to the escape system?
The escape system is that thin pointy part at the very top of the rocket. It has powerful solid rockets that basically act as an "ejection seat" for the entire crew capsule.
So when we talk about "...
- 4,606