elturner@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Edwin L Turner) (09/30/88)
According to the NYC 11pm CBS news tonight, NASA "is studying" the apparent SRB flame plume "to determine its nature and significance". Ed Turner "Does one really have to fret phoenix!elturner About enlightenment? No matter what road I travel, I'm going home." or elturner@phoenix.Princeton.EDU
ziegler@lznv.ATT.COM (J.ZIEGLER) (09/30/88)
When I first saw the alleged flame plume I though the same thing. But after seeing it on reply and watching it closely, I decided that it looked more like a reflection generated in or very near the camera's lens - a very common phenomenon with a lens that long. That theory nicely explains why it seemed to move around an change shape so much - it was moving with the camera, not the shuttle. I'm not an expert, and a close examination of the SRB is warranted, but if they say they can't find anything, I'd believe them. Joe Ziegler att!lznv!ziegler My opinions are, of course, my own, and don't necessarily represent those of any employer, much less mine.
tneff@dasys1.UUCP (Tom Neff) (10/02/88)
I see two separate, potentially disturbing things when I replay the launch. First, just as Discovery clears the tower and for a couple of seconds afterward, there is a definite extra plume coming from the starboard SRB at the case-to-nozzle joint on the inboard side. This is not a camera reflection or layer separation (or swamp gas). If NASA refuses to say anything about this after the flight I am mailing a videocassette to my congressman. Then, from about T+60 to T+100 seconds, there is that mass of yellow flame visible aft of the ET and "between" the SRB skirts, similar to what we saw on Challenger before the breakup. Is this a normal aerodynamic effect (if so, may I say this is not the most comforting news I have been given lately) or is it from an unwanted flame plume? Was Discovery's ascent really "nominal" as we were all thrilled to hear CAPCOM tell the crew after MECO -- or are we lucky they're alive at all? -- Tom Neff UUCP: ...!cmcl2!phri!dasys1!tneff "None of your toys CIS: 76556,2536 MCI: TNEFF will function..." GEnie: TOMNEFF BIX: t.neff (no kidding)