Transterrestrial Musings

1. 
   Mike Borgelt

   February 1, 2013, 1:24 pm | #

   40 psi seems very high for the RCS to quit in favour of aero controls.
   Did you mean 40 pounds per square foot?

   • 
     Rand Simberg

     February 1, 2013, 1:32 pm | #

     D’oh!
   • 
     Rand Simberg

     February 1, 2013, 1:33 pm | #

     At least I can fix it in the book.
2. 
   Steve A

   February 1, 2013, 2:01 pm | #

   Excellent stage setter Rand. I taught a course on the STS a number of years back and this would have been invaluable for the Challenger/Columbia lesson. I remember playing the audio of the last few minutes for the class and it had a very sobering impact.

   One editorial note though (sorry, can’t help myself). “The heaviest debris would have rained over the southwest Houston neighborhoods in which they had lived at supersonic speeds…” It’s difficult to imagine living at supersonic speeds, at least in a suburban neighborhood. Perhaps “The heaviest debris would have rained at supersonic speeds over the southwest Houston neighborhoods in which they had lived…” is closer to what you meant?

   • 
     Rand Simberg

     February 1, 2013, 2:07 pm | #

     I’m going to blame the editor for that one. My version ended the sentence with “at supersonic speeds.”

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