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Old 08-10-2009, 08:08 PM
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Octane (Humayun)
IIS Member #671

Octane is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canberra
Posts: 11,159
I've almost blown my data allowance for the month.

Are these the videos from all the different cameras positioned on the solid rocket boosters? If so, they're very cool videos. The daytime video from (I think) the left SRB of STS-127 falling back to earth is one of the best I've seen.

And, yes, the twist manouevre is referred to as the Roll Program. It assists with communications and guidance. Once the Shuttle is near orbit, it performs a manouevre called the Plus X. That is when they twist around again with the heat resistant tiles facing back to earth, to aid in communications. They do another vertical roll once they're below the International Space Station, so that the crew onboard the ISS can take high resolution photographs of the undercarriage of the Shuttle for inspection by engineers for any damage obtained during ascent.

Regards,
Humayun
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