OMS pod engines

Right after SRB sep, I heard the MCC PAO say that the propulsion officer has
just anounced that the OMS engines had ignited to help
give the orbitor a "kick in the pants" for the next 1:30 to assist orbital
insertion... do these ignite at this time during each flight or was there
soemthing during this flight that necessiated extra boost?
thanks
John

"John H" wrote in message
...
Right after SRB sep, I heard the MCC PAO say that the propulsion officer
has just anounced that the OMS engines had ignited to help
give the orbitor a "kick in the pants" for the next 1:30 to assist orbital
insertion... do these ignite at this time during each flight or was there
soemthing during this flight that necessiated extra boost?
thanks
John

oh well, I just read someplace they do assist in insertion, I guess I just
never heard
the PAO announce it before so dramatically..

BTW I loved the way he described Barbara Morgans ascent "racing into space
on the wings of a legacy" or something like that.

On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 09:58:36 -0700, "John H" wrote:

Right after SRB sep, I heard the MCC PAO say that the propulsion officer has
just anounced that the OMS engines had ignited to help
give the orbitor a "kick in the pants" for the next 1:30 to assist orbital
insertion... do these ignite at this time during each flight or was there
soemthing during this flight that necessiated extra boost?
thanks
John

With the extra heavy payloads for ISS assembly it seems to have become
the norm for them to light up the OMS engines after staging. IIRC they
don't or didn't do this for satellite delivery or science missions.
Maybe one of the more knowledgeable folks will weigh in on this one.
But to answer your question it is because of the weight.
Jim in Houston.

Contrary to popular opinion RN does not mean Real Nerd!

Teddy Roosevelt's mother said: "Fill what is empty, empty what is full, and scratch where it itches"

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"Jim in Houston" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 09:58:36 -0700, "John H" wrote:

Right after SRB sep, I heard the MCC PAO say that the propulsion officer
has
just anounced that the OMS engines had ignited to help
give the orbitor a "kick in the pants" for the next 1:30 to assist orbital
insertion... do these ignite at this time during each flight or was there
soemthing during this flight that necessiated extra boost?
thanks
John

With the extra heavy payloads for ISS assembly it seems to have become
the norm for them to light up the OMS engines after staging. IIRC they
don't or didn't do this for satellite delivery or science missions.
Maybe one of the more knowledgeable folks will weigh in on this one.
But to answer your question it is because of the weight.
Jim in Houston.


IIRC, They decided to do that to get a little more performance as well as to
use it instead of dumping it overboard. I think it was on a thread here that
they decided to launch with full tanks and use the extra at lift off instead
of launching with enough to do the mission with reserve and possibly
partially fueled tanks.

Again, I may be mistaken, but that sticks in my mind.

JC
IN

On Thu, 9 Aug 2007 16:32:29 -0400, "Jason A. Ciastko"
wrote:

IIRC, They decided to do that to get a little more performance as well as to
use it instead of dumping it overboard. I think it was on a thread here that
they decided to launch with full tanks and use the extra at lift off instead
of launching with enough to do the mission with reserve and possibly
partially fueled tanks.

Exactly.

It's called the "OMS Assist".

Brian