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From: wmartin@brl-smoke.ARPA (Will Martin )
Newsgroups: net.columbia
Subject: Re: SRB's
Message-ID: <1514@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Date: Tue, 4-Mar-86 16:42:08 EST
Article-I.D.: brl-smok.1514
Posted: Tue Mar  4 16:42:08 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 8-Mar-86 22:15:46 EST
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Organization: USAMC ALMSA, St. Louis, MO
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In article <6435@utzoo.UUCP> henry@utzoo.UUCP (Henry Spencer) writes:
>> ... the SRBs.  If one did not ignite, I suspect the
>> procedure is to shut down the main engines and not release the vehicle...
>... SRB ignition and the
>blowing of the hold-down nuts are simultaneous.

Some months ago, long before the accident, this was discussed on the
net, and I recall that one of the people "in the know" mentioned that
the SRB thrust was in excess of what the hold-downs could withstand.
If an SRB ignited and the hold-down was not released, they would take
off anyway, ripping apart the structure of the craft and causing a
massive explosion as all the fuel/oxidizer was spilled.

Will