STS-117 Nasa Space Shuttle SRB Separation

[srofficial06]

The SRB's rely on a pulse of very high voltage similar to that in an arc welder for initial ignition whereupon thereafter it simply burns the solid propellent up like a bottle rocket more or less? What if a continuous supply of high voltage were available as a " feedstock" for the booster(s)? The propellent could be reformulated to include more aluminum powder which is also lighter in weight than the gunpowder constituent. A spaced based solar-elec array could supply via laser to ascending ship?

[boulderdsvo]

The burned spot on the fuel tank is just the surface insulation (the stuff that sometimes falls off on launch) scorching a little. There's a WIDE margin before it'd burn through the actual tank.

[skatering42]

the space shuttle retires in 2010 cause they need to build a new craft for the mission for mars..i heard 2020 they will luanch for mars

[IngoGallacher]

No way, after SRB sep. the shuttle is running aprox. 6 minutes with liquid fuel from that tank, in the moment of SRB sep, the tank i it's have aprox 70% fuel.

[laserfloyd]

Gotta remember that the large tank houses two smaller tanks which are further insulated I believe. As long as the tank isn't breached, all should be ok.  At that point in the flight aerodynamics are a non-issue as well. Still looks violent though!

[nakazatoGTR]

to those moon theorists, see how the shuttle's engine burn only makes the nozzles glow but no exhaust flame when it is in atmosphere.

[bc1969214]

STS and Saturn V use different propellant mixtures. What were you getting at?

[nakazatoGTR]

yes different everything, engine fuel type etc.

but it burns liquid fuel, and them stupid theorist say : all rocket engines should have rooster tail.

well, every liquid fuel rocket would lose its impressive rooster flame once in space is what i am getting at.

the narrow exhaust would spread out in vaccuum(correct me if i got the spelling wrong.)

[NuclearActiveGuy]

just amazing

maybe someday i will get to be in one

i can only pray

[joachim2464]

the you have to hurry. Space shuttle retires in 2010

[stevehawking]

That's a fundamental worry, surely!

The idea of pointing a rocket at a fuel tank to divert the SRB rocket is intuitively risky business!

Simply mind boggling...

[IngoGallacher]

I never thought, that separation flares are so big... Now i can explain for myself the light wieved from inside cockpit in the moment of separation... And take a look at the burned trails on the main tank... That's can be really dangerous...

[nakazatoGTR]

maybe reposition the thrusters off to side and angled outwards.

[journeystarr]

Tank is damn near empty by the time the SRB's separate anyways.

[bc1969214]

The SRBs sep around 2 minutes into flight, the tank still has to fuel the main engines for another 6 minutes before dropping off. Not anywhere near empty.

[mittensisfat]

at frist it looks like the shuttle is going to blow up!!!!!

[laserfloyd]

talk about getting your timing right. get the timing wrong and it could be a bad day for those guys inside. awesome footage.

[Nails077]

That was cool. Awesome footage!

[MidwestVideos]

Awesome!

[AntonBreusov]

Shuttle launches is so tricky.

[yamal001]

very nice