__/ [ Jim ] on Saturday 08 July 2006 15:08 \__
> I was reading a slashdot story on the space program (specifically the
> recent successful shuttle launch) when I came across this:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Redstone_1
>
> -------------8<----------------------------------
> The Redstone's engine cut out about 1 second after lift-off. The launch
> failure was caused by a booster tail plug that pulled out too early,
> about one inch (25 mm) after liftoff. The rocket rose about 4 inches
> (100 mm) then settled back onto the launch pad and did not explode. An
> odd series of events then took place.
>
> The Launch Escape System sensed the booster cutoff and fired the main
> escape rockets. At the same time, it thought booster cutoff was a signal
> to jettison itself, so it released the Mercury capsule. As a result the
> Escape Rocket launched itself to a 4,000 ft (1,220 m) apogee and landed
> 400 yards (365 m) away, but the capsule stayed behind on the rocket. The
> Mercury spacecraft sensed escape system jettison, but thought it been
> pulled away from an exploding booster and was falling. Three seconds
> after the escape rocket fired, the spacecraft ejected its radio canister
> and deployed its drogue, main and reserve parachutes.
>
> In the end, a fully fuelled, slightly wrinkled Redstone booster sat on
> the launch pad, with live batteries and pyrotechnics. On top of it sat a
> Mercury capsule with live batteries and more pyrotechnics and main and
> reserve parachutes hanging down the side of the rocket, threatening to
> tip the Redstone over if they caught enough wind. All that was launched
> was the escape tower.
>
> -------------8<----------------------------------
>
> Immediately, the thought that flashed across my mind was "Was it running
> Windows?".
>
> Then I realised that it was a few years ahead...
>
> Still made me chuckle at the thought.
Have a look at the following news from Thursday.
http://sema.autoblog.com/2006/07/06/microsoft-to-run-formula-1-in-2008/
Microsoft to run Formula 1 in 2008
Gives a whole new meaning to the term "crashes".
Best wishes,
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | "The only source is Open Source"
http://Schestowitz.com | Free as in Free Beer ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
Cpu(s): 19.9% user, 3.4% system, 15.2% nice, 61.5% idle
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