Larry Jaques wrote:
On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:08:04 GMT, with neither quill nor qualm,
quickly quoth:
Whenever the launch is shown there is a shot of the exhaust coming out
of the rockets. And there is always in the shot a device that shoots
out sparks horizontally. What is the spark shower for?
That's the NASA version of a Bic lighter. It causes the volatile fuel
to ignite.
Remember hearing the countdown? Three, two, one, ignition, liftoff.
--
Such is the irresistible nature of truth that all it asks, and all it wants,
is the liberty of appearing. -- Thomas Paine
Made that up all by yourself, eh?
t-15 suppression water start
t-10 secs, free hydrogen burn off initiators fire, run 9 secs (+5/-0)
t-6.6 sec Main engine 3 start
t-6.48 sec Main engine 2 start
t-6.36 sec Main engine 1 start
t-0 SRB ignition, release hold downs
Liftoff