"Derek Lyons" wrote in message
...
"MichaelJP" wrote:

"Danny Deger" wrote in message
.. .
Here's another section of my autobiography on STS-37 landing short of
the
runway.

Within days of my taking over this job, a shuttle landed short of the
runway. Fortunately, the landing was on the lakebed and Edwards Air
Force
Base, where landing short is not a problem. If the landing had been at
Kennedy, we would have lost the orbiter and the crew.
.. snipped...

Interesting stuff, I didn't know about this.

It's a well known story - Danny just adds a few details and his own
unique spin.

Hypothetically, if this had taken place at KSC, is there nowhere the
orbiter could have been belly landed with some chance of survival? Could a
shuttle ditch without being destroyed?

No and no.

D.

So I suppose the only chance would be the bail-out system if it was decided
early enough that the shuttle didn't have enough energy to make the runway?