By Mark Betancourt
In the aftermath of the Challenger space shuttle accident, NASA scrambled to find an escape method should the space shuttle ever malfunction again. Although the general consensus was that such a method wouldn't have helped the Challenger astronauts and would be useful in only a handful of scenarios, something was better that nothing.
But first, could the pilots actually get out of the escape hatch? A scaled simulation with a wind tunnel and dummies showed that it was. The next problem was to figure out how to get them beyond the reach of the wings, because they escape hatch would be on the side of the spacecraft. Many solutions were proposed, but some resulted in limbs being torn off, and scientists finally arrived at a curved pole design that would extend out of the hatch. Astronauts would climb along this, attached by a lanyard, until they let go at the end.
The finally step was making a parachute backpack. Not only would this need parachutes, but it would need to auto deploy like an ejection seat in case someone was unconscious, have a raft and life vest along with emergency rations, and all fit into a one-size-fits-all backpack. Navy elite skydivers tested these systems, and NASA eventually settled on one with adjustable straps.
The shuttle Discovery was the first to be equipped with these new features, and was sent off on the return-to-service flight. Although they were never used, it's always better to be safe than sorry.
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