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From: fisher@dvinci.DEC (Burns Fisher, MRO3-1/E13, 231-4108)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Fire after Discovery Shutdown?
Message-ID: <2344@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 5-Jul-84 11:16:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.2344
Posted: Thu Jul  5 11:16:46 1984
Date-Received: Mon, 9-Jul-84 00:28:36 EDT
Sender: lipman@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 29


After the engine shutdown on Discovery, the TV pictures (via NBC) showed what
appeared to be a ~small(?) fire in the area of the engines.  The NBC
man-at-KSC asked his astronaut/consultant about it.  The astro replied that
he thought it was a normal part of the shutdown.  Does anyone know anything
more about this?  (By the way...while I have to give NBC credit for continuing
to cover shuttle launches, their coverage is truly abysmal!  Bryant Gumbel
is the biggest flamer I have ever seen, with the possible exception of Jules
Bergman!  B.G. seemed to be nearly in a panic wondering why the astros did
not get out of the shuttle.  They kept trying to get the astro/consultant to
admit that everyone was within an inch of loosing their life.  They kept
alluding to what a close thing it was...only 4 seconds later and it would have
been all over.  [I would like to ask them how the hell you are supposed to
detect that an engine has not fired correctly before it is supposed to fire
at all!]).

Also, it appeared that water was being used as a fire extinguisher around the
base of the shuttle after the shutdown.  Will water really put out an LH2 fire?
Or is it for some other purpose?

Thanks,

Burns

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