Abstract
Having achieved lift-off, the next hazardous phase of the mission is getting from the pad and safely into orbit while riding a potential explosive rocket. In addressing this challenge the designers of manned spacecraft have evolved two main systems of crew evacuations during ascent: by means either of an escape tower or ejection seats. In addition, there are a number of flight profiles developed in the event of an erroneous launch profile that does not require the crew to be evacuated from the vehicle but to “fly” a trajectory that hopefully will ensure either their safe return to Earth or to orbit.
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(2009). Launch escape, 1: Escape towers. In: Space Rescue. Springer Praxis Books. Praxis. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73996-0_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-73996-0_5
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