Conference 7.286::space

119.0. "Initial Details of Explosion" by GRDIAN::CLARK () Tue Jan 28 1986 14:33

Just wanted to add my observations of what happened this morning ....

I'm a resident of Nashua, NH ... due to the snow this morning, I decided to
go into work late, and take the opportunity to watch the shuttle launch.  I
switched between the major networks (NBC, ABC, CBS), and also watched ch.9
broadcasting out of Manchester ... it was a perfect launch, then at 1 minute
12 seconds into the flight (about 6 seconds after "throttle-up" of the shuttle's
main engines) there was a flare ... there was silence from mission control, and
at that time I think most people's thoughts were that the flare was normal ...
what they were used to seeing when the solid rocket boosters separated from
the craft.  This was not supposed to happen until 2 minutes + into the flight.
There were three separate (contrails?) paths of exhaust ... later on, when
there were close-ups of the shuttle at the time of the explosion, it appeared
that the explosion occured under the shuttle, between the external tank and
one of the rocket boosters.  After the explosion, a large quantity of debris
was observable, descending from the point of explosion to the water below.

Prior to the explosion, I had thought that the shuttle was following a flight
path that was much more curved than normal ... the flight path seemed irregular,
as if something was wrong about 15 seconds prior to the actual event.

Later on, there was a person on a parachute observed, which turned out to be
some rescue personnel.

While driving to work, I heard on the radio that the probable cause of the
explosion was one of the solid rocket boosters ... NASA did not believe
that ice crystals were the cause, although they also do not have any idea
of what the cause was.

A good amount of time was spent with Larry Speakes at the White House ...
channel 5 spent some time showing the reactions of Christa McAuliffe's family
near the launch site.  Which I expect we will be forced to observe for quite
some time to come ....

-dave

... have just heard that one of the srb's separated early ... this could be
seen in the televised coverage; the srb flying erratically, out of control ....

I could only pray for the crew, though I'm not given to such a thing ... NASA
believes there are no survivors.

I don't know what to say, except that I feel a great sorrow for the families
of the crew, and sympathy for the students of Christa McAuliffe who were
watching.

-dave

I think the whole world will be stunned by this tradgedy. It couldn't have
happened at a worse time, especially with the high NASA has been on with
the Voyager mission and its spectacular pictures.

I couldn't beleive the news I heard thismorning.

NASA must receive the support of the American people and its government to
press on with its space program. The shuttle, as the US's flagship of its
space program, as well as a technological masterpiece, must carry on.

Dave Green
New Zealand

The accounts here could not prepare me for those pictures - even though
I knew that's what it would look like (you keep hoping that a crippled,
but intact orbiter would miraculously appear from the smoke...)

I certainly wept after everthing sunk in.  It's hard to handle such swings
in emotions.  I only wish the media would have some respect (I'm deliberately
avoiding the local news - armchair experts I don't need right now).

They were pioneers - I hope people can remember that.

- dave