Questions tagged [srb]
Questions regarding the solid rocket boosters used to propel spacecraft, often during launch.
38
questions
20
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How does a single SRB control attitude?
The Ares I-X was a test flight from the Constellation program for crewed Ares I-launched Orion capsules.
If liquid fueled rocket motors can gimbal, how do solid rocket motor-propelled spacecraft ...
- 1,199
8
votes
1
answer
957
views
Are side boosters sometimes angled even if they are symmetrically arranged?
When more than one side booster is added to a first stage to increase thrust and they are distributed uniformly around the core (as opposed to those shown in links below) thrust does not seem to need ...
- 149k
8
votes
1
answer
955
views
What does “supersonic large amplitude ID maneuver PTI” mean, and what does a tumble motor do?
In this question I linked to a YouTube video of the Ares X-1 launch. You can start listening at 02:00 for the point where these are mentioned:
"Supersonic large ...
- 149k
14
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Is it possible for the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) to hit the Space Shuttle after jettison?
We all know that the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) were the pair of large solid rockets used by the United States' NASA Space Shuttle during the first two minutes of its powered flight. ...
- 243
7
votes
0
answers
722
views
What makes exhaust from aluminum-based SRB propellant so bright?
The brightness and color of the extremely bright light produced by the Space Shuttle SRB's is discussed in this answer and in comments below it, though the main subject there is the dim blue light ...
- 149k
13
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What are these circular spots on these Ariane V SRB nozzles?
This Space Shuttle Almanac tweet says:
Pics 1-4 of todays @Arianespace #ArianeV VA249 launch carrying the #EDRSC & #Intelsat39 comsats from Kourou
and includes the cool (hot) image below.
...
- 149k
13
votes
1
answer
860
views
Why do the shapes of these two exhaust plumes from an Atlas V 411 look different?
The Atlas V 411 configuration is interesting because there is a single SRB on one side of the first stage, requiring the main engines to vector substantially to keep the thrust mostly axial.
The ...
- 149k
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Is it unusual to vector the thrust from an SRB?
Let me explain. The term SRB (Solid (fuel) Rocket Booster) usually refers to a solid (fuel) rocket which is attached to something else in order to "boost" it.
But I just read this answer by @...
- 149k
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How were vibrations supposed to be handled in an Ares I?
The basic concept of an Ares 1 consisted of a five-segment SRB and some liquid-fuelled upper stage. The SRB was derived from the four-segment Space Shuttle SRBs. A similar concept was later promoted ...
- 6,461
13
votes
4
answers
1k
views
How are SRBs and solid rocket motors transported safely? Do they ever end up on trucks driven down public highways?
The BBC News article The Rocket Scientists Mixing Up a Giant Firework begins with:
In a remote corner of tropical South American jungle, French scientists are mixing a ‘cake’ with a difference – a ...
- 149k
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Have SRBs or SSMEs ever launched without a space shuttle?
It seems to me that the April 12, 1981 launch of Columbia (STS-1) was the manned spaceflight with the most untested hardware of any manned space launch. Even the Vostok and Mercury launch systems had ...
- 6,784
6
votes
2
answers
616
views
How do spherical SRB's compare to long skinny ones? What do their thrust curves look like?
Most SRBs are long and skinny, probably because most are used low in Earth's atmosphere where aerodynamic drag is large.
But here are some very short SRBs, one seemingly spherical except for the ...
- 149k
23
votes
2
answers
5k
views
Could the shuttle's SRB alone reach orbit?
If one equipped the SRB like the ones used with the Shuttles with minimal attitude control systems and launched it as a standalone rocket with no payload - what speed would it reach? Would it be ...
- 55.1k
22
votes
1
answer
9k
views
How were the Space Shuttle SRBs ignited? (with what?)
I'm unable to find how exactly the Space Shuttle's SRBs were ignited, or what exactly was used to ignite the rocket.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to instantly ignite a solid rocket reliably,...
- 323
21
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Challenger hypothetical - what if the SRB breach faced outboard?
Slightly different Challenger question - what could have happened if the SRB breach had faced outboard, away from any attachment fittings or the ET? Would the SRB have failed completely prior to ...
- 2,350