The examples and perspective in this deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (August 2020) |
A roll program or tilt maneuver is an aerodynamic maneuver that alters the attitude of a vertically launched space launch vehicle. The maneuver is used to place the spacecraft on a proper heading toward its intended orbit. It often consists of a partial rotation around the vehicle's vertical axis ("roll") followed by tilting the vehicle ("pitch") to follow the proper gravity turn and/or to improve aerodynamics.
A roll program is completed shortly after the vehicle clears the tower. In the case of a crewed mission, a crew member (usually the commander) reports the roll to the mission control center which is then acknowledged by the capsule communicator.[1]