joels@tekred.UUCP (Joel Swank) (02/11/86)
> I have seen the NASA films on the right SRB and there is no doubt > that the fuel burned through the skin. However, I still have doubts > about this causing the explosion the destroyed the Challenger. > The reason is this, the external tank contains LIQUID H2 and O2. > In order for the burning solid fuel to rupture the ET, it would first have > to burn through the ET insulation. This insulation is holding liquid H2 > at around 20 degrees Kelvin. That's cold. The insulation has to > have a huge R value. After you burn through that, you still have to > get through the aluminum tank. That tank contains liquid. Try this > experiment. Take a paper cup and fill it with water. Now take a propane > torch, and try burning a hole through the bottom. What happens? The > water boils but the cup does not burn. If indeed the SRB "torch" I was watching the CBS news this morning. An 'expert' said that the rupture in the tank was most likely caused by the stress caused by the exhaust from the burn-through pushing the SRB sideways against the structures that hold the SRBs to the tank, rather than any blow-torch effect burning it. This makes more sense because the burn-through seemed to be on the outside of the SRB, away from the tank. Joel Swank Tektronix, Redmond Oregon