Asri-unix.1310
net.space
utzoo!decvax!cca!OTA@S1-A@sri-unix
Fri Apr 23 23:01:27 1982
Some definitions of abbreviations
From: Ted Anderson <OTA AT S1-A>
I was going to produce a glossary to help solve this and similar problems
but somehow the project got delayed as might have been expected. In this
case let me fill in the definitions for this case.
OPF - Orbiter Processing Facility - This is the building at Kennedy where
the orbiter goes after it returns from its landing and before it is
remated to a new external tank (often refered to as an ET) and solid fuel
rocket pair.
OMS - Orbital Manuvering System - These are the small engines (using
hydrazine as fuel and nitrogen tetroxide as oxidizer (this propellant
combination is called hypergolic, this means that they ignite upon
contact, no ignition system is needed (The ignition system is one of the
hard parts about a liquid fuel rocket engine. It caused the failure of
many early US rockets and probably Hudson's recent failure in Texas. The
problem is that if you don't ignite the fuel immediately after it starts
entering the combustion chamber it globs up in a kind of jelly (at least
kerosene and LOX (Liquid Oxygen) do) which literally explodes when it does
ignite.).) that the Space Shuttle uses for moving around in orbit. It
also uses them to do the tail end of getting into orbit and for getting
out of obrit before landing.
SSME - Space Shuttle Main Engines - While I'm at it let me mention that
this is the acronym that is commonly used for the big engines in the back
of the orbiter that burn Liquid Hydrogen and Oxygen thats stored in the
external tank.
SRB - Solid Rocket Boosters - These are the solid fuel rocket engines that
are straped onto the sides of the external tank for the first 2 minutes
and 6 seconds of the flight. These burn a mixture of powdered aluminum
and what amounts to "rubber".
KSC - Kennedy Space Center - This of course is where the Shuttle is
launched from.
I hope these help, I may get around to the glossary project enentually.
Ted Anderson
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