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From: lmc@cisden.UUCP (Lyle McElhaney)
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: Speculation III
Message-ID: <505@cisden.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 12-Feb-86 02:01:44 EST
Article-I.D.: cisden.505
Posted: Wed Feb 12 02:01:44 1986
Date-Received: Fri, 14-Feb-86 06:19:21 EST
References: <1955@pur-phy.UUCP> <900006@pbear.UUCP>
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> 
> Once ruptured, the rigidity of the tank is reduced, and so is the resonance
> of it. This could be the ''secondary'' cause of the ET explosion that you
> were looking for.
> 
The latest theory, from Aviation Week as reported in the local papaer
here, is that the lower support of the right SRB broke loose under the
side-wise pressure from the plume, and the SRB pivoted on its upper
support, hitting the oxygen tank with its tip, crushing it and causing a
leak which lead to the explosion. It does explain how the oxygen tank
suddenly became involved in the accident.