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One Basic Stamp essentially looks at the status of sensors, suchas Ejection charge continuity, Liftoff detect, Thrust detect, andOrbiter sep. The other carries out most of the flight programdepending on the sequence of the flight and sensor status.
It is powered by 9 volts, in this case a 9.6 volt 50 mah nicadpack. It beeps out a number sequence on the ground to indicate ifthings are OK, and if not then it beeps an error code (such as noejection continuity, or liftoff detect before thrust detect). Aconstant beep of "1" means things are good for launch.
Preflight, it commands a servo continuously to hold a positionthat keeps the SRB's attached. On a good flight, when burnout isdetected, the computer commands the servo to move 1/2 second later tosep the SRB's. The computer waits to detect orbiter sep, when itdoes, the ejection for the ET is fired 1 second later. A back-upcharge is fired 1/2 second after that, normally on a good ejectionthe back-up charge does not fire since it becomes unplugged as theejection piston is fired out.
For more info on the Flight Computer's use in the shuttle, go toGeorge's ShuttleModel web page on this CD
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