| Title: | Space Exploration |
| Notice: | Shuttle launch schedules, see Note 6 |
| Moderator: | PRAGMA::GRIFFIN |
| Created: | Mon Feb 17 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Thu Jun 05 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 974 |
| Total number of notes: | 18843 |
Associated Press Tue 12-NOV-1985 06:55 Space Shuttle
Board Investigating Possible Damage to Rocket Segment
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) - A section of a rocket motor intended
for space shuttle Challenger's January flight may have been damaged
during a lifting operation, NASA says.
A board was named to investigate Monday's mishap and determine
whether there was any damage to the rocket segment, one of eight
that make up the two solid fuel rockets that help boost shuttles
into orbit.
If the board finds damage, it also could be instructed to
determine whether to delay the scheduled Jan. 22 flight which will
lift an American teacher and six others into space, the space
agency said.
Workers heard a ``sharp cracking sound'' as an overhead crane
was lifting a handling ring attached to the rocket section, said
Dick Young, a spokesman for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
``The operation was stopped immediately,'' Young said, adding
that engineers did not know what caused the sound or whether there
was any damage.
Among the passengers assigned to the January mission is Christa
McAuliffe, a Concord, N.H., high school social studies teacher who
was selected in a nationwide competition to be the nation's first
teacher in space.
The space agency also reported that Challenger, which returned
from space last Wednesday, may have damaged its landing gear damage
when it got stuck temporarily in the mud as it was being towed at
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., over the weekend.
The mishap occurred while the shuttle was being hauled to a
special Boeing 747 jetliner that returned the spacecraft to Cape
Canaveral on Monday.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98.1 | Was it flown? | NCCSB::DPARKER | Dave Parker - NCO SWS | Mon Mar 10 1986 13:29 | 3 |
Anyone know if this segment was replaced or flown?
Dave
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| 98.2 | NSSG::SULLIVAN | Steven E. Sullivan | Mon Mar 10 1986 13:51 | 11 | |
I have to wonder what the re-furb process for the segments is. Afterall, they go through one hell of a lot of stress, exposure to salt water (steel!) and are expected to be reused! If the out of round segment was reused several time before the accident there may have been problems with metal fatigue or stresses that enhanced the "out of round"ness problem seen during assembly. Was either of the segments around the ill-fated joint used? How much? -SES | |||||
| 98.3 | Recycled segments were iused | CRVAX1::KAPLOW | Bob Kaplow - DDO | Mon Mar 10 1986 19:38 | 7 |
The segments on both sides of the failed joint were previously used. I
don't know how many times, but this certainly wasn't the first time
that used segments were reused. As other articles have pointed out,
there was also some difficulty making the joint between these two
segments. While it is clear that this joint is what failed, we still
don't know WHY it failed. I expect this is what the commission is
looking into.
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| 98.4 | 2nd Worst still available | SKYLAB::FISHER | Tue Mar 11 1986 11:54 | 9 | |
It was noted at the hearing on Friday that the failed SRB section
was worst-deformed casing that had ever been used. It is not uncommon
for them to have to squeeze the casings into round before mating,
but this was the worst. Luckily enough, the second worst one is
still sitting in the VAB, and can be disassembled and inspected
to deterimine if the squeezing might cause problems.
Burns
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| 98.5 | But what about the one in .0?? | NCCSB::DPARKER | Dave Parker - NCO SWS | Tue Mar 11 1986 12:05 | 6 |
Does anyone know if the segment mentioned in .0 which had a
problem on assembly was flown on 51-L? I realize that there
were recycled sections flown, but I'm specifically curious
about the one mentioned in .0.
Dave
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| 98.6 | BOOSTER USAGE | WKRP::FRAYNE | Thu Mar 20 1986 21:09 | 15 | |
The solid booster are broken into six basic units.
The forward segment was flown on Mission 5 (Nov. 11, 1982) and
on Mission 15 (Jan. 24, 1985)
The forward mid segment was flown on Mission 15 (Jan. 24, 1985)
and a test firing aon March 21, 1983.
The aft mid segment was flown on Mission 12 (Aug. 30, 1984)
The aft section with nozzle was flown on Mission 11 (April 4,
1983); Mission 15 (Jan. 24,1985); Mission 16 (April 12, 1985)
and a test firing on in March 1983.
The aft skirt was flown on Mission 2 (Nov. 12,1981); Mission
8 (Aug. 30, 1983); Mission 11 (April 4, 1983) and Mission 15
(Jan. 24, 1985)
The forward nose cone section carries the parachutes, antenna,
recovery beacon etc. I think this is replaced each time.
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| 98.7 | re: .6 | WKRP::FRAYNE | Sun Mar 30 1986 10:39 | 3 | |
re:98.6
The information in .6 is for the right booster...the ill-fated one.
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