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From: wolit@mhuxd.UUCP (Jan Wolitzky)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Challenger SRBs
Message-ID: <4270@mhuxd.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 29-Jan-86 16:07:21 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxd.4270
Posted: Wed Jan 29 16:07:21 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 30-Jan-86 06:44:39 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 17

The videotapes of the Challenger explosion showed the still-burning
solid rocket boosters corkscrewing away from the fireball.  I've
seen reports that at least one of them descended by parachute, which
is the way they're normally recovered.  Yet today, NASA said that
they were destroyed by the range safety officer because one of them
was headed toward a populated area.  This should be fairly easy to
confirm from eyewitness accounts.  Were both SRBs destroyed by command
or just one?  What explanation is there for accounts of a parachute
descending?  Was any telemetry received from the SRBs following the
explosion?  (I believe they normally transmit at least a homing signal
that aids in their recovery.)  Am I correct in my understanding that,
under less catastrophic conditions, the SRBs are capable of
independent guidance, at least to keep them clear of the orbiter
after jettisoning following burnout or during an abort?
-- 
Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ; 201 582-2998; mhuxd!wolit
(Affiliation given for identification purposes only)