Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 165; Flight Crew Total 11400; Flight Crew Type 702
Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Human Factors; Procedure
On the subject flight; we were cleared by the ORD tower controller for takeoff on runway 28R from intersection EE.  We performed the takeoff as per SOP with no issues.  Just after clearing us for takeoff; I heard the controller instruct the aircraft behind us to; 'Line up and wait'.During our takeoff roll; while we were still on the runway; and I would estimate about 20 knots below V1; I heard the tower controller clear the flight behind us to takeoff and the flight acknowledge the clearance.  I remember thinking; 'Boy; I hope we don't have to abort.'  Being below V1 would have meant we would still be on the runway and another flight approaching takeoff speed coming at us on the runway.  Hopefully they would be able to abort before hitting us.  Fortunately our takeoff proceeded normally and nothing occurred.I am not completely familiar with ATC procedures.  I don't know when the earliest time a controller is permitted to clear another aircraft to takeoff behind another departure.  What I did know was that we were still about another three seconds from when the other flight read back the clearance until I called V1.  If anything happened; (remote of course); SOP would have us stopping on the runway.  Though the weather was clear; it was nighttime and I don't think the following aircraft would see us until it was way too late.  Not to mention; if an abort was required there very well could have been debris left on the runway for the other plane to ingest.  This would also depend on how fast I would be able to radio tower about the problem and the other aircrew to realize they were going to have to abort.Overall; as I said; everyone may have been completely in the right and conformed to procedures.  But from where I was sitting; I thought the takeoff clearance for the next flight was too soon and could been a disaster if something we always train in the simulator for (aborts); occurred.
Pilot is cleared for takeoff and is approaching V1 when he hears Tower clear another aircraft for takeoff on the same runway. Pilot wonders what would happen if his aircraft had to abort; and also wonders what type of separation is required by ATC to have two aircraft on the same runway.