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Old 07-February-2005, 06:24 PM
skrap1r0n skrap1r0n is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Austin Tx
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Default Why does the shuttle roll upside down after launch?

Ok , I was looking into abort procedures about the shuttle to get some info for another thread and I was wondering why they orient the shuttle in an upside down position during their first roll manuver after the launch. I did google it (briefly) and the only things I found were speculation from others. These include:

1) So the pilot can see the horizon in the event they need to abort.

2) So Gravity will help seperate the shuttle from the main booster in the event of an emergency.

3) Because the shuttle orbits the earth in that position so they won't have to perform additional manuvers during Orbital insertion.

So I ask, whats the real reason it rolls into an upside down position during it's launch?
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