NASA IOTD STS-72 Landing - question

[shamandgg]

Hi,

Please look at this:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1205.html

Can someone explain me why am I seeing light source inside all of the three main engines?

Cheers,
Shaman

 

[DaveS]

Not light sources. What you're seeing is the Main Combustion Chamber(MCC) of the SSMEs. They reflect the light from the powerful xenon lights that illuminate the runway surface ahead. If you look closely, you can see the OMS engine MCC reflections.

 

[Urwumpe]

If you look at the top of the Shuttle, you can see the shadows of the rudder, and these give you a good idea where the light source is.

 

[pete.dakota]

It's a conspiracy. Trust no one.

 

[shamandgg]

Thanks very much for explaining me this

 

[ryan]

Maybe these were lit up, if they were still there.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2411075867_b18d18cdec.jpg?v=0

 

[DaveS]

Maybe these were lit up, if they were still there.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2411075867_b18d18cdec.jpg?v=0

What you're seeing that photo is a protective "Remove Before Flight" cover for the MCC.

 

[Urwumpe]

What you're seeing that photo is a protective "Remove Before Flight" cover for the MCC.

Exactly - rocket engines don't like moisture and dust inside them, so you prefer keeping them away. Rule: If it is red, you remove it before flight, as late as possible before launch. If it is violet, you remove it before assembly (At least in European Space Flight)

Also: If such a plug would not be removed, it would damage the engine and cause a engine shutdown already during the ignition phase, when the chamber pressure ramps up faster as the current power setting would cause. The SSME would be junk anyway, but you at least keep the Shuttle.

 

[Kyle]

Night landing, yet no APU Flame visible? Interesting, Ive only seen an APU Flame like on STS-123 once, and that only happened once.

 

[DaveS]

Night landing, yet no APU Flame visible? Interesting, Ive only seen an APU Flame like on STS-123 once, and that only happened once.

It generally has to do with the relative humidity in the atmosphere. The higher the RH, the more pronounced the APU exhausts is.

 

[Kyle]

It generally has to do with the relative humidity in the atmosphere. The higher the RH, the more pronounced the APU exhausts is.

Yeah, that makes sense, it was rather Humid that day.