Samiksha Jaiswal (Editor)

Roll program

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Roll program

A roll program or tilt maneuver is an aerodynamic maneuver that alters the attitude of a vertically launched space launch vehicle. The maneuver is used to place the spacecraft on a proper heading toward its intended orbit.

Contents

A roll program is completed shortly after the vehicle clears the tower. In the case of a crewed mission, a crew member (usually the commander) reports the roll to mission control which is then acknowledged by the capsule communicator.

Space Shuttle launch

During the launch of a space shuttle, the roll program was simultaneously accompanied by a pitch maneuver and yaw maneuver.

The roll program occurred during a shuttle launch for the following reasons:

  • To place the shuttle in a heads down position
  • Increasing the mass that can be carried into orbit
  • Increasing the orbital altitude
  • Simplifying the trajectory of a possible Return to Launch site abort maneuver
  • Improving radio line-of-sight propagation
  • Orienting the shuttle more parallel toward the ground with the nose to the east

    • Titan II and Saturn V launch

    Titan II and Saturn V launches also required roll programs.

    References

    Roll program Wikipedia
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