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From: sewilco@mecc.UUCP (Scot E. Wilcoxon)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Range safety system
Message-ID: <414@mecc.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 1-Feb-86 16:21:03 EST
Article-I.D.: mecc.414
Posted: Sat Feb  1 16:21:03 1986
Date-Received: Sun, 2-Feb-86 01:22:06 EST
References: <313@tellab3.UUCP>
Reply-To: sewilco@.UUCP (Scot E. Wilcoxon)
Organization: MN Ed Comp Corp, St. Paul, MN
Lines: 33
Summary: Destruct system very secure.  Worry about something else.

In article <313@tellab3.UUCP> thoth@tellab3.UUCP (Marcus Hall) writes:
>...
>this discussion came immediately to mind.  Does anyone know where the
>ordinances are placed and what the possibility is that this is what destroyed
>Challenger?  With Khadaffi threatening terrorism in America, it just makes

In the interest of squelching a couple of silly rumors:
1) Destruct codes are changed for each flight and are categorically and
physically very well protected.  Including duplicated and remote equipment.
Activation of destruct involves many hardware and software confirmation
sequences.  Marcus' message referred to broadcasting own signals, but
a very strong signal would be needed and (here's my only assumption
so far) would also be detected by destruct transmitters' monitors.
I'm sure if that had happened, the Range Safety Officers, NASA, press,
and FBI would have heard about it within minutes.  [Some people like
conspiracies, so certainly some almost-clever people will nevertheless
come up with an even more outlandish idea]

2) Soviet press has reported a deadly "green canister" might be in
the shuttle debris.  I don't care what color it is, I also can make
a list of deadly things: explosive bolts, fuel for maneuvering jets,
the destruct devices, fuel for the satellite in the cargo bay, hydraulic
devices (jammed, with pressure sealed inside), twisted coil of
springy metal, batteries, sharp edges, 4 foot bar of metal (might
poke your throat with it).  Sillier lists are left as an exercise for
other parents of toddlers and souvenir hunters.

[Disclaimer: My source makes sense to me, maybe not to you.  I have no
connection with anybody, but I am a parent of an exploratory toddler]
-- 

Scot E. Wilcoxon  Minn. Ed. Comp. Corp.            quest!mecc!sewilco
45 03 N / 93 15 W   (612)481-3507 {ihnp4,mgnetp}!dicomed!mecc!sewilco