Stuf4 wrote:



Craig, I agree with Herb that load relief limitations would be a
significant constraint. The margin is thin as it is right now, so
I've heard. I would be surprised if a 4deg alpha shift could be done
without ripping the wings off.

To increase payload performance, the orbiter had been designed to be
more gossamer than robust which means that safety margins along many
axes are thin.



The Shuttle already flys more negative angles of attack than -2 degrees in
this region for engine out trajectories. This is after the high loads
region, and the Shuttle actually flys angles of attack of around -5 degrees
during the high loads region (Max Q).

Craig Fink