| 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 |
The latest news indicated the possibility that Challenger was doomed at launch time. This is inferred from the latest photos showing a puff of black smoke while the shuttle was still on the launchpad. The puff occurs near where the joint is located between the lower segments of the right booster. When I heard about this morning, I had a thought that perhaps the o-ring seal was not to blame for the accident. I still think that the o-ring seal is a risky piece of putty, that should be re-engineered. What I'm saying is that with the puff occurring so early on, perhaps it is the access port that is used to check the seal is at fault. Perhaps the port was not plugged properly, or the plug was not torqued to the correct specs. With a puff occurring so soon after ignition, there must of been a clear path for flames to go right thru the side of the booster, and not enough time for flames to burn thru solid fuel, primary seal and secondary seal. An unplugged access port would do the trick...
| T.R | Title | User | Personal Name | Date | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 150.1 | SKYLAB::FISHER | Fri Feb 14 1986 11:02 | 9 | ||
My understanding (subject to correction) is that the inspection port is an access from the outside into the area between the two seals. If this is true, then leaving the port open would mean that there was no secondary protection, but that if the primary seal held all would still be well. In other words, if it were left open, that would not be a primary cause, but a secondary cause. Burns | |||||
| 150.2 | COIN::ELKIND | Fri Feb 14 1986 13:17 | 3 | ||
I also heard this AM on the Today show that the puff is in the vicinity of the inter-segment joint ABOVE the joint getting all the attention up to now. | |||||
| 150.3 | I don't think so... | CRVAX1::KAPLOW | Bob Kaplow DDO | Fri Feb 21 1986 19:10 | 3 |
There are only 3 joints. For .2 to be true, the puff would have to be
in the middle of the SRB. It was much lower than that, 75% or so seems
to agree with the pictures and the location of the lower joint.
| |||||
| 150.4 | Do YOU trust the Today Show? | COIN::ELKIND | Steve Elkind | Sat Feb 22 1986 14:08 | 3 |
The statement I heard on the Today show was never repeated by any other news source. I stopped believing it later in the day. | |||||