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To: Moonman62
RSB=Rudder/Speed Brake
The aft RCS jets maneuver the spacecraft until a dynamic pressure of 10 pounds per square foot is sensed; at this point, the orbiter's ailerons become effective, and the aft RCS roll jets are deactivated. At a dynamic pressure of 20 pounds per square foot, the orbiter's elevators become effective, and the aft RCS pitch jets are deactivated. The orbiter's speed brake is used below Mach 10 to induce a more positive downward elevator trim deflection. At Mach 3.5, the rudder become activated, and the aft RCS yaw jets are deactivated (approximately 45,000 feet).

Entry flight control is maintained with the aerojet DAP, which generates effector and RCS jet commands to control and stabilize the vehicle during its descent from orbit. The aerojet DAP is a three-axis rate command feedback control system that uses commands from guidance in automatic or from the flight crew's RHC in control stick steering. Depending on the type of command and the flight phase, these result in fire commands to the RCS or deflection commands to the aerosurfaces.


315 posted on 02/08/2003 4:45:30 PM PST by snopercod
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To: snopercod
The first point is that the RSB was not even effective until well after the Columbia disintegrated.

OK, I agree, they wouldn't have been active. But the yaw jets were active, which was my original point. NASA says they have pictures of the yaw jet on the rear starboard side firing over New Mexico, and they said there was a problem with the rate of compensation, which would make the nose point too far right or left. NASA didn't say which way.

Where do we disagree?

317 posted on 02/08/2003 9:10:35 PM PST by Moonman62
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