De-orbit question

Got a question from a neighbor here that I can't answer, but I'm sure
someone can help me out:

Question: Once the shuttle does the de-orbit burn for say a KSC
landing what are the options to NOT land? My impression was that once
you had done the OMS de-orbit burn you were coming down about 60
minutes later, be it on runway, house, farm, whatever, you WERE coming
down period.

IS there any ability to say re-boost and remain in some type of orbit
at all, say even if you cut off the OMS burn short of a full 2:32 (or
so)??

Thanks,

George

===[George R. Kasica]=== +1 262 677 0766
President +1 206 374 6482 FAX
Netwrx Consulting Inc. Jackson, WI USA
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George R. Kasica wrote:
Got a question from a neighbor here that I can't answer, but I'm sure
someone can help me out:

Question: Once the shuttle does the de-orbit burn for say a KSC
landing what are the options to NOT land? My impression was that once
you had done the OMS de-orbit burn you were coming down about 60
minutes later, be it on runway, house, farm, whatever, you WERE coming
down period.

IS there any ability to say re-boost and remain in some type of orbit
at all, say even if you cut off the OMS burn short of a full 2:32 (or
so)??


In theory, up until the drag exceeds the OMS thrust, there is no reason
you cannot get back to a stable orbit, if you have enough fuel. Just
point the other way and fire 'em up, then stabilize your orbit at
apogee.

In practice, the've used up almost all their maneuvering fuel at this
point, so unless they cutoff the de-orbit burn in the first few
seconds, they won't have enough to re-orbit, then de-orbit again. Up
until half way through the burn, there is still enough fuel to
re-orbit, but it would be a really bad idea since they would not have
enough fuel to de-orbit. So in practice, once they get very far into
the burn, they *are* coming down....

Lou Scheffer