Aunc.3368
net.space
utzoo!decvax!duke!unc!smb
Wed Apr 28 13:54:28 1982
Re: shuttle engine blowup?

I heard about the engine explosion via normal media channels.  I
suspect that it's just been crowded out by the Falklands *and* the
Sinai withdrawal; I suspect that most newspapers can't handle more than
one big story at a time.

Anyway...  It was a test engine that exploded.  They were testing the
engine at 109% of rated capacity, as part of an effort to increase the
payload capacity.  Last I heard, they didn't know why it blew, nor did
they expect any effect on the Columbia.