Observation on TPS damage on Orbiter

NASA photos | 2-3-03 | BoneMccoy

[John Jamieson]

I expect that this is an infarred picture of temperature. Aluminum will surely melt and probably burn at the 2500 to 3000 degree temps.

The sensor wire bundle goes right in front and down the side of the wheel well. Things are starting to fit together.

[freepersup]

With that much heat pouring into the wing at what looks like the wheel well compartment, what is the most vulnerable component ? What is most likely to burn / explode ? Makes sense to me.

Something happened after burn through to cause the ship to get sideways. We have sensors indicating a rise in temperature, we have the information acknowledging the left right motion of the ship, we have the video capture showing the ship sideways, and then we have disintegration.

[XBob]

It makes it much more obvious what is going on with the direction and location of the foam.

---

great - how about comment/compare/post your estimation of the position of the hit on budge's 445.

i got a similar longitudinal position, however slightly more inboard, but no reason to disagree with budges position.

the missing wing section from budge's picture in 438 seems to show the wing missing from the wheel well forward

[XBob]

I'd be interested in knowing how much time elapsed, once the craft reacted to the left wing event, and the moment the craft came apart ? 10 seconds, 20 seconds, 30 seconds ?

---

my opinion - the big flare over california was the wheel well door.

[XBob]

We don't have a good time for this image!?

I think it is from an Air Force camera in New Mexico

[John Jamieson]

A piece of leading edge with structure was found in Ft Worth. It was not been established yet, which side.

It looks to me in photo that the leading edge is burning. Temperatures in the wheel well indicate fire is near but not in the well.

[John Jamieson]

Yes, but how does it fit with today's timeline?

[XBob]

462 - With that much heat pouring into the wing at what looks like the wheel well compartment, what is the most vulnerable component ?

---

I would rank them in this order IMO

1. The door

2. the tires

3. the explosive bolts

[XBob]

466 - "It looks to me in photo that the leading edge is burning. Temperatures in the wheel well indicate fire is near but not in the well."

---

I am not an aerodynamicist (is there such a word?) but I think it probably is the area immediately behind the leading edge.

Lay a log on the beach, and watch the sand build up in front of it, and the hole get dug behind it.

[freepersup]

The Fox, shuttle sideways video capture, represents loss of aerodynamic flight controls. This event proceeded the NM image (positive flight control). I guess the ground camerman was in Texas. Would there be a time on screen relating to the image ? One could back track from this to estimate the time in Albuquerque. Is that the question ?

[XBob]

467- Yes, but how does it fit with today's timeline?

---

well, the big 'flare' over california could have been that section of the wing, and the wheel well door, one of the smaller flares.

notice, aerodynamic integrity was apparently pretty well maintained until just about Dallas.

[Doe Eyes]

So... a burst tire... blowing out the bottom of the wing... creating tremendous drag

I heard, early on, that the tires are not normally pressurized (in order to prevent damage from an explosion). Does anyone know at what point in the mission the tires are inflated?

[John Jamieson]

Good question, but I believe the tires were always inflated.

[XBob]

470- The Fox, shuttle sideways video capture, represents loss of aerodynamic flight controls. This event proceeded the NM image (positive flight control). I guess the ground camerman was in Texas.

---

please reword this better.

[John Jamieson]

The sensor data DOES NOT indicate that the problem started in the tire well but on the wing in front of the tire well.

[XBob]

Does anyone know at what point in the mission the tires are inflated?

---

When ever what ever gas is in them gets hot and expands

[freepersup]

The flare up begs the question- what just happened ?

As the information comes in, a picture story develops.

I want to put a flight profile image with the last known active sensor indicator readings and match the time in flight ?

I want to put a flight profile image with the loss of sensor indicator readings and match the time in flight ?

I want to know what the sensor indicator readings were when the flare up over California took place and match the time in flight ?

I want to know what the sensor indicator readings were when the military telescope image from NM was captured and match the time in flight ?

I want to know what the sensor indicator readings were when the Fox camera captured the shuttle in flight sideways and match the time in flight ?

[freepersup]

Someone here reported that the tires are inflated with nitrogen.

[XBob]

475 - The sensor data DOES NOT indicate that the problem started in the tire well but on the wing in front of the tire well.

---

I didn't say it did, but freepersup asked a specific question which I tried to answer.

When/where did the sensor data indicate the problem was beginning (calif, ariz, nm, tx, etc)

[XBob]

477 - The flare up begs the question- what just happened ?

---

sorry - the flares are the first question - what were they composed of. we know they happened before the other stuff.

"I want to know ...."

all good questions, and that is what we are trying to piece together her, little piece by little piece as all the disjointed little pieces are found/released.

the completed profile/time line should explain a lot of what happened, but it is too dis-jointed and piecemeal at this point, but we are gradually getting there.