Coasting to safety, NASA's plan for escape of shuttle plus pics

Here is another article on Nasa's plan to use a coaster type device to escape the shuttle on the launch pad.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/

We have seen this before on a old thread.

Thats why I said its another article on the subject with a couple of pics.

Here is the Old thread with small article on subject, this article gives us more details.

http://www.coasterbuzz.com/forum.aspx?mode=thread&TopicID=46066

So how long until the Alvey's manage to snag this credit?

^LOL.

hey, I'd ride it.

While I have to like the concept, I do have to wonder a bit about the practicality of it from a safety standpoint.

It looks interesting (and fun)...but a steel cable headed down to safety and a latch-on hook or loop to the space suit seems like a more affordable, quicker escape method.

Then again...I'm sure that the steel hooks would end up being about $2,000,000 a piece. =)

The Giant Tube Slide looks fun Also.

Keep in mind, they're going for "get them outta there so they don't die", not "how much fun can they have while averting disaster" ;)

NASA puts the Fun back into Funcionality with its monumental opening for Coast or Die: The Escape!
;)

Am I the only one wishing something like that was on the Stratosphere Tower or the Grand Canyon? ;)

-Tina

You're not alone Tina.

Cue the posts and links about the failed attempt to do just that on the Strat.. anyone want to begin? :)

(I agree.. and add Niagara Falls to that list IMO)

^Yeah, I remember when they were talking about that.

Niagara Falls, huh? Now THAT would be fun as well!

-Tina

Didn't I post my off-the-wall idea for a Niagara B&M Flyer? I thought I did... somewhere...

I know it would never happen, but basically it would start on that little island between the 2 falls.. I think it's called Goat Island? Anyway, the lift hill would go back towards the US, away from the falls, parallel to the river.. cresting about 150' above the ground level of the island, it would twist into the drop back towards the falls (think Talon's first drop) no loops, just flat along the river, maybe 10' up above the surface of the water. No rolls, just flat track along the surface of the river.. hurtling towards the falls, until you actually go OVER the horseshoe falls, dropping down about 70° drop to about the midpoint of the horseshoe, into a large loop (dimensions would have to be such that the forces wouldn't be too great) and then a dive back towards the falls, making a sweep around the horseshoe towards the American falls, finally ending back at the station (depending on the speed, perhaps a short lift hill would be needed before the station)

I know it's not much in terms of elements, but the adrenaline level would be through the roof! :)

A few problems with that: You'd need stainless steel becuase of all the water. You'd have to factor in erosion because Niagra Falls erods at about an in per year. Finally, you'd need so much permitting from both the US and Canada, plus the enviromentalists...

^Nothing that the right amount of money couldn't cure when put in the right direction.

It'd be kind of cool. Almost like that coaster on top of the Stratosphere in Vegas.

I remember being in Strat and seeing the mock-ups and such for the fishhook coaster - beaten myself up repeatedly for not getting pick of that. Would have been an "out of this world" project...for Stratosphere... ;)

Has anybody though of doing something nutball like this of the CN tower in Toronto or even the Empire State Building?