Jon.Webb@IUS2.CS.CMU.EDU (02/07/86)
I've seen a lot of discussion here of the "destruction" of the solid rocket boosters by the range safety officer and how if they had not been destroyed we might have learned something from them (this same speculation appeared in the press). It's possible that this speculation is just out of date (because of delays through usenet) but if people are still thinking that, be reassured. "Destroying" the SRB's means setting off explosives that rip the top off the rocket, thus making it immediately lose forward thrust. The rest of the rocket, where the leak apparently occured, should be in good shape. In fact, it seems that removing the forward thrust is just what you want to do; it makes it more likely that something recognizable will be left when the rocket finally hits the water. Jon