Craig Fink
August 15th 03, 03:09 PM
Roger Balettie's interpretation of someone saying "RTLS" in the viewing
area is correct. Wishful Thinking, grasping at straws. From my own personal
experience, after hearing a gasp coming from the other end of the room, I
leaned over to see one of the few television screens in the backroom. My
view of the television was blocked by another monitor. The first indication
that I had that something was wrong, was the sight of an SRB flying
sideways by itself. My first thought was, maybe the Orbiter is still flying
and they might make it to staging. That thought lasted only a moment, then
the reality of it hit. I nudge Steve who was working the flight with me,
telling him to stop looking for the data to come back and look at the
television. Silence filled the room, the room was quieter than I'd ever
heard before. Just total and complete silence.
As Guidance Support, the abort flags are were on our displays. It was never
selected. And really, there is no reason for an astronaut to select RTLS
during first stage, as it does nothing. Selecting RTLS does nothing until
150 seconds.
Craig Fink
area is correct. Wishful Thinking, grasping at straws. From my own personal
experience, after hearing a gasp coming from the other end of the room, I
leaned over to see one of the few television screens in the backroom. My
view of the television was blocked by another monitor. The first indication
that I had that something was wrong, was the sight of an SRB flying
sideways by itself. My first thought was, maybe the Orbiter is still flying
and they might make it to staging. That thought lasted only a moment, then
the reality of it hit. I nudge Steve who was working the flight with me,
telling him to stop looking for the data to come back and look at the
television. Silence filled the room, the room was quieter than I'd ever
heard before. Just total and complete silence.
As Guidance Support, the abort flags are were on our displays. It was never
selected. And really, there is no reason for an astronaut to select RTLS
during first stage, as it does nothing. Selecting RTLS does nothing until
150 seconds.
Craig Fink