Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!space From: REM@IMSSS (Robert Elton Maas, this host known locally only) Newsgroups: net.space Subject: bridges not yet crossed Message-ID: <8602020835.AA05414@s1-b.arpa> Date: Sun, 2-Feb-86 03:36:49 EST Article-I.D.: s1-b.8602020835.AA05414 Posted: Sun Feb 2 03:36:49 1986 Date-Received: Mon, 3-Feb-86 05:11:23 EST Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: REM%IMSSS@SU-SCORE.ARPA Organization: The ARPA Internet Lines: 18 J> Date: 29 Jan 86 08:11:57 EST (Wed) J> From: James R. Van Zandt J> 1. How long should we wait before launching another shuttle, J> if we CANNOT find the cause for the explosion? Good question for speculation, but let's not cross our bridges before we reach them. Indeed NASA released films of flame on side of right SRB for about ten seconds before the explosion, which could have been first cause. Second cause may be that the flame heated up the detonation device that was supposed to blow up the shuttle in case it was out of control headed toward populated area. If true, doubly ironic that (1) detonation device actually was immediate cause of loss of orbiter (2) huge chunks landed despite detonation (3) SRBs continued from scene of detonation as if nothing happened, not even going much out of control for a while, requiring their own detonation later. J> 2. Should we build another shuttle, or the next generation spacecraft? Yes.