Re: now ~CT-infested -- Re: Q: For Sy Liebergot (Yeah, it's new safe CT-free topic fodder!)

On Sun, 01 May 2005 08:46:39 -0500, rk
<stellare@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> OK, so we can add Jack Swigert to the list of people calling it an explosion.

As I understand the technical definitions, not the ordinary English
definitions[1], an explosion has to have a flame front that moves at
or above than Mach 1. Anything slower is a deflagration (?), not an
explosion.

It seems to me that the margin between explosion and non-explosion is
pretty thin, which may be why the accident board didn't use the
E-word, but described it in very similar terms.

[1] Anyone who believes that technical words retain their everyday
meaning isn't familiar with "jerk".

Mary

--
Mary Shafer Retired aerospace research engineer
reunite.gondwana@xxxxxxxxx or miliff@xxxxxxxx
.

Relevant Pages
Quantcast