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

>>From Herb Schaltegger:
> > The most significant fact I've seen presented in rebuttal thus far
is
> > the one you provided in quoting the Review Board:
> >
> > The relatively sudden, and possibly violent, event associated
> > with loss of integrity of the oxygen tank no. 2 system could
> > have ruptured a line to oxygen tank no. 1, or have caused a
> > valve to leak because of mechanical shock.
>
> The (in)famous picture of the SM taken by the A13 crew prior to entry

> provides more evidence than all your semiotic, definitional games
ever
> could.

What exactly does that picture prove? Check out this photo of the
aftermath of a panel that was blown off the CSM:
http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/lores/AS15-88-11974.jpg

There was definite concern about damage that may have been done to this
particular spacecraft, but subsequent to the jarring explosive event,
the Flight Director made the decision to continue the mission. Here's
how the conversation went:

CDR: "[I] felt a little shudder, but not too much."

CDR: "Okay, Houston. ...the fuel cells looked okay. The RCS Bravo
primary talkback went to barber pole and is reset, and otherwise no
reaction in here."

CAPCOM: "Roger... We copy. And we assume you didn't notice any debris
of any kind either."

CDR: "Nothing in particular, [LMP]'s got a visual now."

CAPCOM: "And...just out of interest, we saw a good healthy jolt in our
Doppler data down here during jett time."

CDR: "Gee, that's very interesting because I would say that the jolt in
here was very minor."

(Excerpts taken from:
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/simbaycam/a15-stat-perf.htm)

> Do grow up and stop trolling the group.

If there is evidence of any damage to the SPS engine in that photo, I
would appreciate having it pointed out. I've looked and I haven't seen
it. Obviously we have proof that a panel blown off from the CSM, in
and of itself, does not necessitate aborting the mission.


~ CT

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