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To: weikel
It is my understanding that they had already gotten through that re-entry phase. If the crew compartment broke apart from the fuel areas before that pink streak on the video which experts said indicated the fuel had ignited, I don't understand how they would have been completely incinerated...What is the temperature of the atmosphere at 203,000ft? Would friction burn them up? I managed to avoid physics in high school and college, although I took Meteorology 101, so am ignorant on these matters.
30 posted on 02/02/2003 4:06:42 PM PST by wimpycat (US: Masters of our Domain...France: Morally bankrupt "old Europe")
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To: wimpycat
The temperature is very cold but the friction burns you up. I haven't seen the video myself. I'd need more information to make a ruling.
36 posted on 02/02/2003 4:14:20 PM PST by weikel (Your commie has no regard for human life not even his own)
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To: wimpycat
I don't understand how they would have been completely incinerated...

The surface temperature on the insulating tiles reaches 3000F during re-entry. Traveling 3 miles/SECOND even through the very thin air at that altitude generates lots of friction.

82 posted on 02/02/2003 5:12:39 PM PST by Eala
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