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From: mahar@fear.UUCP (mahar)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Speculation III
Message-ID: <332@fear.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 7-Feb-86 16:55:36 EST
Article-I.D.: fear.332
Posted: Fri Feb  7 16:55:36 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 11-Feb-86 03:56:00 EST
References: <1955@pur-phy.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Weitek Corp. Sunnyvale Ca.
Lines: 10
Summary: Leaks in the ET

>    The only way that a flame from the SRB could have caused the
> ET to explode instantly, would be if there were an internal leak
> inside the ET. Such leaks are not uncommon in cryogenic systems.
The External Fuel tank is the only part of the shuttle system
that is not recovered after a flight. That means no one has ever
examined a used external tank. How much they leak and how much strain
damage they receive is speculation. I suspect NASA has a good idea
what the state of the external tank is after a launch but the solid
rocket boosters had some suprises so I don't think anybody knows
for sure.