Re: Suitability of Ejection Seats for Gemini - MOL



John wrote:


Anybody know about any analysis was done regarding the uses of seats
during the MOL program?

Blue skies to all


On the upside, you'd be further away from the propellants due to having the MOL between you and the second stage; on the downside you have those SRBs to contend with.
On the MOL Titan III (and the Dyna-Soar Titan III also) they were going to have blow-off hatches on their nose cones that would vent them in case you had to abort for some reason- it was found that the catastrophic pressure drop that occurred inside the central bore of the burning propellant caused them to cease combustion when vented. But the whole thing sounded iffier than even the Titan II Gemini escape option. IIRC, there was discussion given to freeing the Gemini from the Titan III/MOL via the use of the Gemini's solid fuel retro engines.
There were interesting escape options planned for Big Gemini, including escape towers and multiple ejection seats for the enlarged crew: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/bigemini.htm
What makes the ejection seat layout on this version: http://www.astronautix.com/graphics/b/bigcutaw.jpg interesting is the "two-story" layout of the passengers makes this look like something that the Shuttle could have used also.

Pat


.