[net.columbia] Shuttle Engine Wear/Test Failure

pyle@ut-ngp.UUCP (03/26/84)

An article in the March 25 Austin American-Statesman by the 
Knight-Ridder News Service states that the:

	"shuttle main engines . . . are wearing out so fast that
	they have to be repaired after almost every flight."

They quote unnamed officials who state that the engines will 
probably be servicable for 35 flights instead of the 55 flight
design expectation.  Also in the article,

	". . . senior NASA engineers say that engine wear is such
	a severe and chronic problem that a complete redesign of
	major engine components may be necessary."

	"During the test of a modified engine last month at the
	National Space Technology Laboratories of NASA in
	Mississippi, the engine burned up.  The accident happened
	after 28 minutes of full-power operation, the equivalent
	of three flights."

	"The cracks (in the Challenger engines discovered before
	its maiden flight), which apparently developed during
	ground tests, eventually were traced to modifications
	that were intended to reduce wear."

Other than this article, I haven't seen any indication that the
wear, which has been mentioned during mission coverage, was this
severe.  I also had not heard of the engine test failure.  Was
this after 28 minutes of continuous operation or total operation?
Does anyone have any more detailed information on the wear or the
test?

Replies to the net, please.

Keith Pyle         . . .!ihnp4!ut-ngp!pyle