![]() The shuttle would continue downrange to burn excess propellant, as well as pitch up to maintain vertical speed in aborts with an SSME failure. Return to launch site (RTLS) was the first abort mode available, and could be selected just after SRB jettison. Intact aborts were designed to provide a safe return of the orbiter to a planned landing site or to a lower orbit than planned for the mission. There were four intact abort modes for the Space Shuttle. Taken during STS-51-F with the switch on ATO mode Other possible non-engine failures necessitating an abort included a multiple auxiliary power unit (APU) failure, a cabin leak, and an external tank leak.Ībort panel on Space Shuttle Challenger. The abort modes covered a wide range of potential problems, but the most commonly expected problem was a Space Shuttle main engine (SSME) failure, causing the vehicle to have insufficient thrust to achieve its planned orbit. The choice of abort mode depended on how urgent the situation was, and what emergency landing site could be reached. There were five abort modes available during ascent, divided into the categories of intact aborts and contingency aborts. ![]() If an event requiring an abort happened after SRB ignition, it was not possible to begin the abort until after SRB burnout and separation about two minutes after launch. ![]() Once the shuttle's SRBs were ignited, the vehicle was committed to liftoff. This was called a "redundant set launch sequencer (RSLS) abort", and happened five times: STS-41-D, STS-51-F, STS-51, STS-55, and STS-68. If an anomaly was detected, the engines would be shut down automatically and the countdown terminated before ignition of the solid rocket boosters (SRBs) at T - 0 seconds. The three Space Shuttle main engines were ignited roughly 6.6 seconds before liftoff, and computers monitored their performance as they built up thrust. Redundant set launch sequencer (RSLS) abort
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