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