Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site lanl.ARPA
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!cmcl2!lanl!jkw
From: jkw@lanl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Challenger Destruct
Message-ID: <555@lanl.ARPA>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 11:08:06 EST
Article-I.D.: lanl.555
Posted: Fri Jan 31 11:08:06 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Feb-86 21:32:23 EST
References: <540@ihlpl.UUCP> <8500015@uiucdcs>
Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory
Lines: 18

> 
> When the pilot advanced the throttle to 104%, the thing blew up. I
> think, from the views of the flames licking the side of the main tank,
> that volatile fuel was leaking from the main tank, somewhat toward the
> nose of the tank. It was ignited by the exhaust flames as it passed
> the tail of the rockets, the flash flame followed up the tank to the
> hole, crack, whatever and she blew. It could well have cracked, where
> the nose mount of the shuttle was attached to the tank.
> 
Has anyone heard if the explosive bolts attaching the main tank and/or the
solid-fuel boosters blew (or were blown by an on-board computer)?  It seems
to me that if they did blow, they would have ignited the leaking fuel and
this could have been the cause of the ultimate explosion up between the tank
and the orbiter.  It would be ironic if Challenger's last attempt to save
the orbiter touched off the blast (although I have no doubt that it would
have happened within seconds anyway).

	  Jay Wooten  Los Alamos National Lab  ARPA:jkw@lanl.ARPA