Re: Credible Challenger Closure


<maxson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:16380b0b-2189-42fd-a260-11db0b61bb77@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On Jan 28, 10:56 am, "Mark Kelepouris" <markkel...@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi group and Maxon,

Hi Mark. It's "Maxson," however. You know, son of Max, like all those
other good old English names found in Australia. Your question
deserves a detailed and accurate answer. I'm sure others here (perhaps
more qualified) will jump on it.

Your message gives me a good opportunity to post a couple of links for
William Ferreira (whose reply you included below)

On Jan 27, 7:09 pm, "William Ferreira" <william-

ferre...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
The belly flash represented in the first set of pictures, second frame
(with
the arrow) is the Oxygen fire streaming down the right side of the
orbiter

The right side? Are you sure? There appears to be as much or more
"streaming" on the left (-Y) side, as well as in the center, as seen
here:

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v3n52b.htm (Figure 77)

beginning where the frustum of the right SRB penetrated the LO2 tank.

++Some of the streaming to the left is Oxygen vapor and fire being affected
by the sonic shock wave off the ET nose cap and nose of the orbiter.

Where do you see the "belly flash?" Here's an earlier frame:

http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v3n51b.htm (Figure 75)

I can't spot any reference to it on the associated CAD drawing to the
right.

JTM

++ In that photo, you are seeing Hydrogen streaming from a 4 inch hole made
by the hot gas leak from the right SRB in the side of the ET. The arrows are
pointing to the circular vapor cloud forming around the base of the ET when
the aft dome weld on the Hydrogen tank shattered. That happened when the SRB
broke free of the aft mounts. The next frame of the referenced video shows
even more of the 30+ foot diameter column of LH2 exiting the bottom of the
tank.

++ The belly flash I was referring to was your first photo referenced here:
http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p28.htm

++ Bill Ferreira


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