All Questions
Tagged with srb space-shuttle
32
questions
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How would larger solid rocket boosters have improved the space shuttle's capabilities?
I was told that the new SLS that NASA is building is using the same SRBs that the space shuttle used just with one extra segment added. Five instead of the original four.
If the shuttle had used these ...
- 314
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the purpose of the aft skirt on the Space Shuttle and SLS Solid Rocket Boosters?
The Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) used by the Space Shuttle and SLS have a skirt near the bottom.
What is it for? Is it only to support the stack?
- 5,333
19
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Why were they using segmented boosters on Space Shuttle?
After learning how the solid fuel is protecting the casing of the SRB from the heat of the combustion in this answer I have to ask this question.
As we know, it's exactly this segmentation of the ...
- 3,255
6
votes
1
answer
366
views
What is the time sequence for SRB burn-out and separation?
I understand that SRBs cannot be throttled or shut down, they need to "burn out". Since they are often used in pairs, I assume there is a statistical spread in the burn duration of the two ...
- 22.9k
6
votes
0
answers
212
views
Why were the SRBs rolled out of the VAB without the rest of the Shuttle stack?
This answer shows the following photo of two Shuttle solid rocket boosters, mounted on the mobile launch platform without the external tank or orbiter, and driven outside the Vehicle Assembly Building....
- 48.1k
10
votes
1
answer
598
views
How were STS SRBs disassembled
What was the process for disassembling the SRBs following their recovery?
Was it broken down to the field or factory seal level of segments, and how was it taken apart?
- 105
4
votes
0
answers
287
views
Why were there painted black rings on the SRBs?
There were black rings on the STS-1 SRBs.
There were even more on later flights.
But there was a period without them at all.
Why?
- 10.9k
1
vote
0
answers
119
views
What is the limit to which we can scale up uniformly in all directions Space Shuttle SRB before it becomes unable to take off?
Let's say we like the Space Shuttle design so much, we want to use it as a reference for our new rocket. But we want to build rocket which will be capable of launching larger payload into Earth's ...
- 2,321
6
votes
1
answer
668
views
Did the shuttle SRBs have separation motors?
Looking at a NASA fact sheet about the SLS SRBs and I noticed it has at the bottom around the nozzle, separation motors.
Watching shuttle launches It looks to me like the SRBs continue to fire ...
- 959
8
votes
1
answer
904
views
Why were there so many icicles in this Space Shuttle launch area? (Challenger disaster)
The blogpost Lessons From NASA Disasters: When Curiosity Deficits Kill is about the importance of freedom of curiosity for members of organizations. However it contains many Space Shuttle-related ...
- 149k
5
votes
1
answer
639
views
Why did the Space Shuttle's SRB's float, and float vertically?
The blogpost Lessons From NASA Disasters: When Curiosity Deficits Kill is about the importance of freedom of curiosity for members of organizations. However it contains many Space Shuttle-related ...
- 149k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Features seen on the Space Shuttle's solid booster; what does "LOADED" mean exactly?
The question Please explain the time reference shown in Shuttle launch engineering video links to the very cool video Ascent - Commemorating Shuttle. After about ...
- 149k
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there documented Space Shuttle O-ring failures excluding STS-51-L?
The most obvious failure of the Space Shuttle SRB O-rings was the Challenger disaster. The burn through location was just about in the worst possible location to cause the catastrophic damage that ...
- 2,808
10
votes
1
answer
397
views
Source for Shuttle SRB segment history diagrams
I'm looking for a source for these ATK booster segment history images.
Sadly absent user TildalWave posted a comment with a link to an article containing this one 3 1/2 years ago.
I've finally ...
- 184k
12
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Final results on Space Shuttle SRB reuse goal?
One of the stated goals of the Space Shuttle solid rocket boosters (SRBs) was their re-usability and cost savings from such reuse. I know that many of them were reused, but in the end, how successful ...
- 2,808