Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!amdcad!lll-crg!seismo!harvard!h-sc1!bangs
From: bangs@h-sc1.UUCP (alex bangs)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Challenger disaster
Message-ID: <899@h-sc1.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-Jan-86 17:45:09 EST
Article-I.D.: h-sc1.899
Posted: Thu Jan 30 17:45:09 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 07:21:46 EST
References: <787@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Reply-To: bangs@h-sc1.UUCP (alex bangs)
Organization: Harvard Univ. Science Center
Lines: 37
Summary: A few notes

In article <787@decwrl.DEC.COM> fisher@star.DEC (Burns Fisher ZKO1-1/D42 DTN 381-1466) writes:
>Another thing:  Are the SRB recovery aids autonomous?  Any chance that they
>popped their chutes and landed intact after they finished firing?  If they
>are recovered, that would be (obviously) good evidence about the SRB explosion
>theory.

After the explosion, a chute was seen -- some thought, incorrectly, it belonged
to a crew member.  It was one of the SRB chutes.  Only one chute popped, as far
as I know, so that does not necessarily mean the SRB's were not the cause.
I saw an article here which brought up the point that a year ago they had a
near burn-thru problem with one of the SRB's.  They said then that two more
minutes of firing of the SRB's in that case could have been disasterous.  Also,
when the SRB's were being put on the shuttle this time, one of the boosters was
supposedly scraped against a bolt -- it apparently only penetrated the booster
insulation slightly, and was also not in the area where the explosion would
have occurred.  Any further info on that?

I should point out that the explosion occurred right after throttle-up.  That
would tend to hint toward an ET problem.  I heard an engineer familiar with
the shuttle said that he thought it was possible some of the fuel feed equip-
ment was damaged somehow and led to the problem.  I also heard they were having
tile problems before takeoff -- any possibility a tile falling off during
takeoff could have done such damage?

On the topic of ejection seats, there was no verbal response from the shuttle
before the explosion.  This makes me think there was not much time for ejection,
or speaking.  In addition, those seats would have to move people pretty damn
fast to get them out in time.  Considering the speed they are
travelling at takeoff, ejection sounds pretty hokey.  I hope that uninformed
press and public do not force NASA to do alot of unnecessary work before the
shuttle continues its work (which I, for one, certainly hope it does continue
with full strength).

Sorry for the length, but one more thing.  Net.challenger is a good idea.
-- 
Alex L. Bangs    Harvard University    net: bangs@h-sc4.UUCP
                                            bangs@h-sc4.HARVARD.EDU