Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!cwjcc!gatech!rutgers!bellcore!tness7!ninja!cpe!billv
From: billv@cpe.UUCP
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: SRB flicker of light
Message-ID: <6400007@cpe>
Date: 30 Sep 88 21:20:00 GMT
References: <21259@topaz.rutgers.edu>
Lines: 32
Nf-ID: #R:topaz.rutgers.edu:21259:cpe:6400007:000:1601
Nf-From: cpe.UUCP!billv    Sep 30 16:20:00 1988


>/* ---------- "SRB flicker of light" ---------- */
>WABC-TV news said tonight about the flicker of light from the booster
>that NASA said that it was probably an optical illusion.
                                       ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^
>It really didn't look like it to me....
>Mark

Me either!!!! NASA said that the complacency that resulted in the Challenger
disaster has been eliminated. It certainly looks like the same old B.S. we
have grown to expect from Government agencies. IF it was flame, this crew is
EXTREMELY lucky to be alive. 


I found it surprising that at ignition the TV audience/crew were applauding, 
as if at this time everything was over. We MUST teach our kids that anything
attached to a rocket motor is very dangerous STARTING at ignition. At that time,
the tension should begin. I felt VERY nervous when the MAJOR abnormal flame
was visible. IF this was real, it was not a flicker.


The flame I saw appeared to move around a lot, and (lucky) appeared to be
mostly on the out-board side (ie away from the E.T.). 

Does anyone have tapes of old shuttle missions? Look and see if this (illusion)
is common. If not, we are in TROUBLE folks!
***********************************************************************
* Bill Valentine                      trsvax!cpe!billv                *
* Computer Product Engineering        (killer,convex)!ninja!cpe!billv *
* Tandy Corporation   -views expressed are my own and do not reflect  *
* (817) 878-4139       upon those of my employer.                     *
***********************************************************************