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From: kenny@uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Challenger SRBs
Message-ID: <6800009@uiucdcsb>
Date: Fri, 31-Jan-86 11:59:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.6800009
Posted: Fri Jan 31 11:59:00 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Feb-86 20:53:28 EST
References: <4270@mhuxd.UUCP>
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Nf-ID: #R:mhuxd.UUCP:4270:uiucdcsb:6800009:000:1762
Nf-From: uiucdcsb.CS.UIUC.EDU!kenny    Jan 31 10:59:00 1986


It is fairly obvious that a parachute which can be observed descending
amidst the debris following the explosion is not a paramedic (contrary to
the statement of the announcer on the NASA-Select feed), nor in fact a
personnel 'chute at all.  Personnel 'chutes have ``modifications'' --
openings cut into them to permit the user to steer and control his descent
by adjusting tension on the shrouds.  The parachute that was visible had no
modifications and was descending in an uncontrolled fashion.

The recovery crew reports that among the debris was a ``fifteen foot conical
object'' with a parachute attached to it.  While the recovery officer was
unwilling to commit to its identity, it seems fairly obvious that the object
was an SRB nosecone, or at least a piece of one.  I suspect that the
consistent explanation of all these observations is that the SRB's were
indeed destroyed by the range safety officer, but that the nosecone of one
survived the self-destruct and had its recovery apparatus deploy normally.

All of this is just uneducated speculation.  Can someone ``in the know''
confirm any of it?

Kevin Kenny
UUCP: {ihnp4, pur-ee, convex}!uiucdcs!kenny
ARPA: kenny@B.CS.UIUC.EDU	( kenny@UIUC.ARPA for old-fashioned
				  nameservers)
CSNET: kenny@UIUC.CSNET

	O Spirit, Whom the Father sent
	To spread abroad the firmament,
	O Wind of Heaven, by Thy might,
	Spare those who dare the eagle's flight,
	And keep them in Thy watchful care
	From every peril of the air.
		``A Service Hymn-Book,'' 1937

	Almighty Ruler of the all,
	Whose power extends to great and small,
	Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
	Whose least creation fills with awe,
	Oh, grant Thy mercy and Thy grace
	To those that venture into space.
		Robert Anson Heinlein, 1948