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Questions tagged [srb]

Questions regarding the solid rocket boosters used to propel spacecraft, often during launch.

47 votes
6 answers
10k views

Could the shuttle wait out the whole burn of SRBs on launchpad in case of a problem on launch?

Somewhere on this site I read that in NASA, the rocket leaves the launchpad (through release of explosive bolts) only after the engines have attained full power. Assuming in the scarce seconds ...
SF.'s user avatar
  • 55.1k
30 votes
3 answers
6k views

Did the Challenger SRBs fail due to design for reuse?

All that I know about the Challenger tragedy was that some o-rings failed in the reusable solid rocket boosters (SRBs) due to the low temperatures that day. I'm curious if such an accident would have ...
tau's user avatar
  • 403
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 ...
SF.'s user avatar
  • 55.1k
22 votes
1 answer
3k views

Does the Long March-11 increase its thrust after clearing the launch tower?

The NASA Spaceflight article China conducts first Sea Launch mission with Long March 11 launch of seven satellites links to the YouTube video China’s first sea launch: Long March-11 launches from a ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 149k
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,...
Nile River's user avatar
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 ...
John Bode's user avatar
  • 2,350
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 ...
IT Bear's user avatar
  • 1,199
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 ...
TrySCE2AUX's user avatar
  • 3,255
18 votes
3 answers
4k views

Why didn't the SRBs of the Space Shuttle use carbon instead of aluminium?

In the Solid Rocket Boosters of the Space Shuttle, the following reaction happened: $\mathrm{NH_4ClO_4 + Al \rightarrow H_2O + N_2 + Al_2O_3 + AlCl_3}$ Using carbon instead aluminium, we would have ...
peterh's user avatar
  • 3,298
17 votes
1 answer
3k views

Was a method available to save the Challenger Crew?

In a previous thread, I asked the question of the likelihood of the STS stack surviving an early separation of the SRB using the SRB manual separation switch on panel C3: Could the SRB's have ...
Challenger Truth's user avatar
16 votes
3 answers
3k views

How many Solid Rocket Boosters were there in the Space Shuttle program?

I was reading the wikipedia article about the SRBs, which were retrieved, refurbished, updated and re-used. I understand that if they were taken apart and pieces were replaced, that there was a 'new ...
Mikey's user avatar
  • 2,941
15 votes
3 answers
954 views

Has an SRB been considered for use in orbit to launch to escape velocity?

Has an SRB been considered for use in orbit to launch to escape velocity to deep space? Consider SRB disposable and deep space vehicle continues on liquid propulsion. SRB conserves liquid propellants ...
Doug Cook's user avatar
  • 151
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?
Speedphoenix's user avatar
  • 5,333
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 ...
s-m-e's user avatar
  • 6,461
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

Why can solid rockets be both the skinniest and most spherical launch vehicles while liquid fuel rockets have a more limited range of aspect ratios?

Question: Why can solid rockets be both the skinniest and most spherical launch vehicles while liquid fuel rockets have a more limited range of aspect ratios? Are there fundamental engineering ...
uhoh's user avatar
  • 149k

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