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100MPH is about 45m/s, not 25. Fighting gravity, that's 55m/s^s acceleration, or 5.5g.

Still fairly mild, considering. The Soyuz launch escape system, for example, subjects its occupants to 14-17g for five seconds. Incidentally this is the only LES that's seen actual use, when it saved a crew from an exploding rocket in 1983.

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Whilst it is true that there has only been one launch abort so far, if the Shuttle had a launch abort system it would have saved the seven astronauts aboard. Just mentioning this in case someone mistakes your post as arguing that launch abort systems are rarely useful.

could, not would. Having a launch abort system is no guarantee that everybody will survive the ordeal.

That's a good point to raise. I didn't intend to make that statement but I can see how it could sound that way.

You are very correct.

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