"Dan Foster" wrote in message
...
Interesting. Why wouldn't RTLS have had been an option (even if not a real
desirable one, ordinarily) in such a scenario with two SSMEs out? Just
curious. Seems to me that if it had enough energy to almost make it for
the
TAL case, it would theoretically have more than sufficient energy margin
to
make it for a RTLS or ECAL landing.

Distance, as far as I understand. They'd have to get off the tank and honk
it back around, and if they're too far to do that, well... I imagine the
turn required would be pretty wide, which would eat up a lot of energy.

Plus, I don't know how stressful it would be to turn all the way around at
Mach 13.