Varför skulle landning av rymdfärjan på vatten ha varit oöverstigligt?

Wikslinjen ger ingen citat eller någon utarbetande men är i stor utsträckning korrekt. Det konstaterades att orbiterna faktiskt hade en gynnsam form att dike .

The Langley report does state that the Orbiter shape and mass [182] properties are good for ditching, but given the structural problems and deceleration loads, that is little consolation.

Detta berördes i Challenger-rapporten , i slutändan skulle de höga belastningarna helt enkelt inte leda till en överlevnad påverkan som hade att göra med både höga tillvägagångshastigheter och eventuellt osäker lastmassa (från en retardationssynpunkt).

In 1974 and 1975, ditching studies were conducted at Langley Research Center. Although test limitations precluded definitive conclusions, the studies suggested that the loads at water impact would be high. The deceleration would most probably cause structural failure of the crew cabin support ties to the fuselage, which would impede crew egress and possibly flood the cabin. Furthermore, payloads in the cargo bay are not designed to withstand decelerations as high as those expected, 2 and would very possibly break free and travel forward to the crew cabin. The Langley report does state that the Orbiter shape and mass [182] properties are good for ditching, but given the structural problems and deceleration loads, that is little consolation.

Orbiter ditching was discussed by the Crew Safety Panel and at Orbiter flight techniques meetings before the first Shuttle flight. The consensus of these groups was that (1) ditching is more hazardous than suggested by the early Langley tests, and (2) ditching is probably not survivable.

This view was reiterated in the September 9, 1982, letter from Griffin to Abrahamson:

"We also suggest no further effort be expended to study bailout or ditching. There is considerable doubt that either case is technically feasible with the present Orbiter design. Even if a technical solution can be found, the impact of providing either capability is so severe in terms of cost and schedule as to make them impractical."

There is no evidence that a Shuttle crew would survive a water impact. Since all contingency aborts and all first stage abort capabilities that are being studied culminate in a water impact, an additional provision for crew escape before impact should also be considered.

Astronaut Paul Weitz expressed this before the Commission on April 3, 1986:

*"My feeling is so strong that the Orbiter will not survive a ditching, and that includes land, water or any unprepared surface....

"I think if we put the crew in a position where they're going to be asked to do a contingency abort, then they need some means to get out of the vehicle before it contacts earth, the surface of the earth."*

Nasa publicerade en studie om ditching analys av flygburen fordon här (med fokus på shuttle) dess vetenskap tung men en intressant läs om ämnet.

Skytteln landar på 220 km / h och skulle bryta upp. Detta är 40% snabbare än flygplan med dubbelt så mycket energi att spridas och shuttle-strukturen är en hel del lättare. Orbitrarna var utformade för att gå till rymden och avslutade varje uppdrag av deras 100 uppdragsrörelser genom att landa på en jätte bana. Flyglinjer är utformade för fyrtio till hundra tusen landningar eller mer, och de går inte alltid så bra i vatten heller.

( Youtube - Etiopisk 961 )