Re: IEEE SPECTRUM magazine: Apollo 13, We Have a Solution

> What's your point? It was indeed an explosion.

Au Contraire, my understanding of the facts is that it was not an
explosion. Consider the quote that Cass himself provides in that IEEE
Spectrum article:
...
"there was a dull but definite bang-not much of
a vibration though...just a noise," said Apollo's 13's
commander, Lovell, afterward.

And here are some pertinent quotes from NASA's official "REPORT OF
APOLLO 13 REVIEW BOARD" (http://history.nasa.gov/ap13rb/ch1.pdf) that
have been posted:

"It is now clear that oxygen tank no. 2 or its associated tubing
lost pressure integrity because of combustion within the tank,
and that effects of oxygen escaping from the tank caused the
removal of the panel covering bay 4 and a relatively slow leak
in oxygen tank no. 1 or its lines or valves."

"After the relatively slow propagation process ... took
place, there was a relatively abrupt loss of oxygen tank no. 2
integrity. About 69 seconds after the pressure began to rise, it
reached the peak recorded, 1008 psia, the pressure at which the
cryogenic oxygen tank relief valve is designed to be fully open.
Pressure began a decrease for 8 seconds, dropping to 996 psia
before readings were lost."

"27. Findings

a. The pressure relief valve was designed to be fully open at
about 1000 psi.

b. Oxygen tank no. 2 telemetry showed a pressure drop from
1008 psia at 55:54:45 to 996 psia at 55:54:53, at which time
telemetry data were lost.

Determination

This drop resulted from the normal operation of the pressure
relief valve as verified in subsequent tests."

>>From p5-22, http://history.nasa.gov/ap13rb/ch5.pdf
____

Loss of O2 due to "normal operation of the pressure relief valve"
contrasts sharply with the standard story that "the tank exploded"...
Or as Cass writes on the sidebar of his article:
The resulting fire sent pressures within the tank through the
roof, and the tank blew up.
(http://www.spectrum.ieee.org/WEBONLY/wonews/apr05/0405napolasb1.html)

I hope we can find agreement about the facts of the nature of the
Apollo 13 tank failure so that we can move forward to discussing the
ramifications of those facts. I don't know enough about the story of
those tanks to know the exact details, but I haven't ruled out the use
of Corbomite in the manufacturing...


~ CT

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cortank
    ... A core 'tank' could be pressurized to four or five ... of the volume of the airship. ... as a resovior for gas panels that would form a protective inert gas ... The Shenandoah was lifted by a squall to above its pressure altitude, ...
    (sci.energy.hydrogen)
  • Re: Questions about Apollo 13
    ... "It is now clear that oxygen tank no. 2 or its associated tubing ... About 69 seconds after the pressure began to rise, ... cryogenic oxygen tank relief valve is designed to be fully open. ... design of, and use of, the O2 tank's overpressure "Relief valve". ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • Re: Cortank
    ... A core 'tank' could be pressurized to four or five ... of the volume of the airship. ... as a resovior for gas panels that would form a protective inert gas ... The Shenandoah was lifted by a squall to above its pressure altitude, ...
    (sci.energy.hydrogen)
  • Re: Electric Motorglider Flies
    ... to produce electricity by a fuel-cell with a typical efficiency of ... You are forgetting about the enormous weight of a tank capable of ... appear that carbon fiber or Kevlar composite pressure cylinders may be ...
    (rec.aviation.piloting)
  • Re: well tank
    ... switch.got a 36gal well saver tank at HD,says ... it does the work of a larger size tank.the switch is 40-60psi. ... My money says the pressure is too low - mine was precharged, ... the water when the air in the bladder expands to the 40psi cut-in pressure. ...
    (alt.home.repair)