jeffj@sfmin.UUCP (J.S.Jonas) (01/30/86)
[]
Looking at the news footage in slow motion, I agree that it looks like
the main tank went first. Channel 13 (N.Y.public TV) had two
experts (I forgot who) evaluate the footage. They sited the flames
as 'unusual' and gave many guesses.
I would like further information which I haven't seen yet
1) We've all seen one view of the explosion. Who taped that?
Were there any other detailed views?
Any satellite monitoring?
2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used?
What is the history of the liquid fuel tank -
How many times was it used?
What is the inspection/recertification process?
3) What has been recovered? What parts would be most useful and why?
Jeff Jonas
{ihnp4 | mcnc | allegra} attunix ! jeffjeec3@ihuxx.UUCP (e. cumberland) (01/31/86)
> Any satellite monitoring? > > 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - > How many times was it used? > What is the inspection/recertification process? > > 3) What has been recovered? What parts would be most useful and why? > > Jeff Jonas > {ihnp4 | mcnc | allegra} attunix ! jeffj I thought that the tank was released at an altitude and location such that it would disintegrate upon re-entry and any pieces remaining would fall into an ocean. It cannot be reused. Edwin E. Cumberland III
ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) (01/31/86)
> 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - > How many times was it used? > What is the inspection/recertification process? The liquid fuel tank is the only hardware that ISN'T reused.
jjboritz@watnot.UUCP (Jim Boritz) (01/31/86)
> > 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - > How many times was it used? > What is the inspection/recertification process? > > > Jeff Jonas > {ihnp4 | mcnc | allegra} attunix ! jeffj After each shuttle mission the solid rocket boosters are recovered and reused, however the liquid fuel tank remains attached to the shuttle for quite a while longer. When the liquid fuel tank is finally jettisoned its fate is to burn up upon re-entry. Jim Boritz jjboritz@watnotm@ watnot
crshnider@watnot.UUCP (Chuck Shnider) (01/31/86)
> > > > 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? > > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - > > How many times was it used? > > What is the inspection/recertification process? > > > > > > Jeff Jonas > > {ihnp4 | mcnc | allegra} attunix ! jeffj > > After each shuttle mission the solid rocket boosters are recovered and reused, > however the liquid fuel tank remains attached to the shuttle for quite a while > longer. When the liquid fuel tank is finally jettisoned its fate is to burn up > upon re-entry. > > Jim Boritz jjboritz@watnotm@ watnot Jim: Why is the sky blue?
ccs025@ucdavis.UUCP (Johan) (02/01/86)
> I would like further information which I haven't seen yet > > 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - > How many times was it used? > What is the inspection/recertification process? > I believe the External Tank is the one piece of the shuttle that is NOT re-used. The extra expense of paint is one of the reasons the tanks are left reddish. The tank seperates at a very high altitude, and burns up upon re-entry. -- Martin Van Ryswyk {dual,lll-crg,ucbvax}!ucdavis!deneb!ccs025 uucp ucdavis!deneb!ccs025@ucbvax.berkley.edu arpa
ekrell@ucla-cs.UUCP (02/02/86)
In article <646@sfmin.UUCP> jeffj@sfmin.UUCP (J.S.Jonas) writes: > >1) We've all seen one view of the explosion. Who taped that? > Were there any other detailed views? > Any satellite monitoring? > That footage is the official NASA one. They also taped the entire thing from the other side of the shuttle. They released today some of that footage and was shown on TV. From that side it is clear that there was a fire in the upper-mid section of the right SRB which ignited the explosion. That also explains the reading of a sudden loss of pressure measured by the instrumentation. They found that when going through all the taped they have. I understand that NASA will be releasing more footage in the next few days. -- Eduardo Krell UCLA Computer Science Department ekrell@ucla-locus.arpa ..!{sdcrdcf,ihnp4,trwspp,ucbvax}!ucla-cs!ekrell
bjb@nvzg2.UUCP (Bernie Brown) (02/02/86)
> > 1) We've all seen one view of the explosion. Who taped that? An observatory in Merrit Island, ~5 miles from KSC, that does work for NASA. > Were there any other detailed views? None yet. NASA has impounded ALL film shot from cameras located on KSC property, including news media cameras. > Any satellite monitoring? Unknown. > > 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? SRB casings only. > What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - They all have been jetisoned into the Indian Ocean. They sink. > How many times was it used? See above. > What is the inspection/recertification process? Too complex to mention here. > > 3) What has been recovered? What parts would be most useful and why? At this point, 3:30 Sunday morning, they have a few tons of debris, including some fairly large parts, cargo door section, fuselage sections, internal tanks, etc. When I get the Sunday paper later this morning I may have additional info. Keep the Dream Alive. -- Bernie Brown (AT&T-IS, Altamonte Springs, FL) UUCP ...!ihnp4!codas!nvzg2!bjb This is my commentary not theirs. I don't know, or care, if they care anyway.
mitchell@kvue.UUCP (Roger Mitchell) (02/05/86)
>> 2) I know we recover the tanks after each mission, but are they re-used? >> What is the history of the liquid fuel tank - >> How many times was it used? >> What is the inspection/recertification process? >> > I believe the External Tank is the one piece of the shuttle that >is NOT re-used. The extra expense of paint is one of the reasons >the tanks are left reddish. The tank seperates at a very high >altitude, and burns up upon re-entry. The SRB's (solid rocket boosters), of which the latest pictures and speculation indicate were the cause of the tragedy, are re-used. They seperate after burning for two minutes and boosting the shuttle to an altitute of 28 miles. The external tank, on the other hand, continues on with the orbiter until main engine cutoff ("MECO" in NASA language), and is jettisoned 16 seconds after MECO. It burns itself up over the Indian Ocean during its re-entry. Also, the reason for the red color? The red (or rust) color is the natural color of the insulation needed to keep the liquid hydrogen and oxygen cold. By not painting the tanks, NASA saves over 1000 lbs in launch weight (which can be applied to payloads, additional personnel, etc.). For those who (like me) have a deep fascination with the space program, and in particular the shuttle program, I'd like to suggest the book "Entering Space: An Astronaut's Odyssey" by Joseph P. Allen (former Mission Specialist who flew aboard Columbia and Discovery). It's not to technical, and it has lots of great photos and first-hand commentary on space flight. It is just the thing to help one through this rough time. Roger Mitchell KVUE-TV Austin, TX