First Publically Available SRB-TVC Plot from Challenger



I have spent considerable time searching the online version of the
PC's Challenger report (called "51lcover") for the earliest public
reference by NASA to SRB TVC data. It seems more than unusual, but it
appears that NASA (the world's premier space agency at the time)
delayed that date until an open hearing on March 7, 1986. JSC's Tom
Moser then testified:

"Here we see the actuator motion from the right-hand SRB, and that is
very simply the flight control system trying to respond to what the
rate gyro from the SRB is telling it to do."

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v5p1179.htm

This "tilt" plot referenced by Moser plainly reveals that SRB TVC data
was available at least as early as February 6, 1986. Please consider
this bizarre oddity in the context of NASA's alleged "O-ring
burnthrough in the R-SRB" (allegedly to blame for a big drop in
chamber pressure and for a fairly direct right-to-left "blowtorch"
effect on the liquid hydrogen tank).

Notice also that the plot Moser referenced (see link above) is clearly
labeled LH for left-hand (not "right-hand"), with units in inches (not
PSI as its title might suggest).

"And so that tells us our flight control system is still behaving
properly at that time," Moser continues.

How then will some interpret the following "rock" plot from the Photo
Team, first made available to the public in June 1986:

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v3n48b.htm

Will they suspect that the flight control system was also "behaving
properly" until t+74 seconds, when the above command trace went to
null? The plot appears to show that. Why did NASA throw that end-time
into the mix?

Compare it with the Photo Team's LH rock-actuator position, as
referenced by Jon Berndt on his Challenger website:

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v3n44.htm

That "rock" trace obviously ends earlier than t+74 seconds.

I would be greatly indebted to anyone who can provide an earlier
public reference by NASA to SRB TVC actuator commands or positions.
Thanks for your consideration.

JTM -- www.mission51l.com

.



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