STS-118 Endeavour

[Mogget]

I have just watched a launch video of STS-118 Endeavour on YouTube (from liftoff all the way through to ET separation), and I noted several interesting points....

1. Just after SRB separation, it was reported that the OMS engines had fired for a total of 1.5 minutes, to give Endeavour an extra "kick". I have never heard of that being done before.

2. "Press to ATO" (Abort to Orbit) message at around 5m10s.

3. "Single engine Ops 3" message at around 5m40s.

4. At maybe 5m50s into the launch, Endeavour makes a 180 degree roll that puts it on top of the ET (relative to Earth)! I have never seen that manouevre either.


I hope that all of these messages and events are recreated if STS-118 is released as an addon mission 

[christra]

 
2+3 are just messages in case there is an abort necessary. Aborts are not simulated so far.
1+4 are simulated in SSM. The roll to heads up position is at around Mach 13 and is used since STS-87 in 1997.

See here: http://wiki.ssm-fans.info/doku.php?id=ascent

[Mogget]

Ah, so all of the missions after STS-87 perform that 180 degree roll? I have only completed the missions up to STS-47 in SSM2007, so that will be why I have never seen it.

[christra]

Ah, so all of the missions after STS-87 perform that 180 degree roll? I have only completed the missions up to STS-47 in SSM2007, so that will be why I have never seen it.

Correct

[christra]

And here is some more info:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/feedback/expert/answer/mcc/sts-97/12_01_16_02_14.html