Re: Why wasn't escape tower used on Gemini?

Henry Spencer wrote:
In article <12mk4ve42sm2862@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Pat Flannery <flanner@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Although the ejection seats are always associated with Gemini, the spacecraft had two escape systems; once altitudes and speeds were reached that made the seats unusable, the spacecraft could be separated from the vehicle by firing all four of its retrorockets simultaneously...

If memory serves, that option wasn't available on Gemini proper -- it was
added for MOL, where the presence of two big Roman candles :-) down below
made it imperative to have some way of getting clear of a malfunctioning
booster rather than just riding it out.

Nope. Salvo firing of the retros was a Mode II abort.

The Gemini abort modes were

Mode 1 - eject after shutdown - from pad to 15000 ft

Mode 2 - salvo retros after shutdown
- delayed (wait 5 sec) - from 15,000 ft to 78,000 ft
- normal - from 78,000 ft to 20,700 fps

Mode 3 - shutdown, separate, turn around, retrofire
- from 20,700 fps until the last few seconds of
powered flight.

--
Dave Michelson
davem@xxxxxxxxxx
.

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