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Rate Gyro Assemblies (RGA)

Each SRB contains two RGAs, with each RGA containing one pitch and one yaw gyro. These provide an output proportional to angular rates about the pitch and yaw axes to the orbiter computers and guidance, navigation and control system during first- stage ascent flight in conjunction with the orbiter roll rate gyros until SRB separation. At SRB separation, a switchover is made from the SRB RGAs to the orbiter RGAs.

The SRB RGA rates pass through the orbiter flight aft multiplexers/ demultiplexers to the orbiter GPCs. The RGA rates are then mid-value- selected in redundancy management to provide SRB pitch and yaw rates to the user software. The RGAs are designed for 20 missions.

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