Roll program

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 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 mission control which is then acknowledged by the capsule communicator. During the launch of a space shuttle, the roll program was simultaneously accompanied by a pitch maneuver and yaw maneuver.