One of the post-Challenger changes was to install an extendible bail-out pole that would stick out the side hatch to facilitate crew bailout, in an extreme emergency. Therefore, seat #5 next to the hatch was eliminated. That crewmember now sits in a seat forward and to the right of that position, and acts as sort of a jumpmaster, jettisoning the side hatch in an emergency, extending the pole, etc..

I haven’t asked anyone, but cannot imagine an astronaut unstrapping from any of other middeck seats and tumbling down behind them to be able to see out of the side hatch window during launch.

Thanks for an interesting story, Don!

Personally, I think the brave men and women doing this have many reasons to appear nonchalant during the launch. For one thing, they are sitting on approx. 535,000 US gal of liquid propellant, and approx. 2.6 million pounds of solid rocket boosters, all controlled using equipment designed mostly in the late 1970’s by the lowest bidder. No wonder they have diapers in their spacesuits!

Once the riskiest part of their journey is over, they are clearly elated to just still be alive!

Space travel is indeed risky. 2 failures out of 121+ Shuttle launches is what, 1.65% chance of failure? Or rather, 98.35% chance of success. Far worse odds than getting hit by another car on the road, That’s one reason why so few people get to do it. If I had the chance, I would ride a rocket to space in a heartbeat. I’m probably not in the majority, and that’s another reason so few have gone.

Space is so cool.