Posted on 01/28/2016 4:12:31 AM PST by WhiskeyX
Sobering.
If the burn through had occurred further counterclockwise and outside the 90 degree arc,, could Challengers TPS have absorbed the heat from what was a very large solid-fuel blowtorch?
The thought was that with only about 40 seconds left in the SRB burn, and the increased distance between the burnthru and the Shuttle wing, the tiles could have protected the structure.
FWIW I’ve held a 1” thick piece of tile in my hand with a MAPP torch on the other side and felt nothing, while the other side was glowing white.
The SRB flame is about 4500 degrees, and the MAPP torch is over 5000 degrees, so that probably would not be a problem.
The SRB exhaust speed is around Mach 2, but I doubt the burnthru speed was near that high. So the flame pressure probably would not have been a problem either.
He didn’t write it and didn’t do the post mortems— just received the bodies into the hospital. No secrets here.
Nothing secret about it. He was just on administrative duty overseeing the hospital that night to receive the bodies— didn’t do any exams or reports to my knowledge.
Dad’s was involved in the autopsies. I was involve din trajectory analysis of the debris from space-based sensors. It was the day the future of my entire career field died. The Air Force manned space program never recovered from that event.
Suddenly we knew something was wrong, there was just too much "smoke" and smokey trails and wisps way up there. We ran to the TV and clustered around it, running outside every few moments, then inside to hear the narrative, then outside again.
The white debris contrails filled the sky. It seemed like they were lasting up there forever before trailing and looping down to the horizon. Some stayed up for an hour.
We were all devastated. The neighbors went home to turn on their own TVs.....and to mourn. It was so shocking and stunning. It hit right in the gut.
It was one of those moments in history that remain embedded in your heart and mind forever.
RIP.
Leni
I was working in the Hughes Aircraft Company building with no windows. When my daughter called me and said the Challenger blew up I tried to remember who I knew that owned a Plymouth Challenger.
30 years ago, today, it was crisp, cold, clear day with not a cloud in the sky, in Lakeland, FL. The bluest of blue skies. Because it was so cold out, I chose to watch the Challenger shuttle launch from my office. Watched as the Challenger lifted into the sky but something was amiss. Plumes went in several different directions. Not normal. One of the ladies, watching on TV in the office, ran into my office and said the Challenger had exploded. It was a very sad, and quiet, moment, knowing I had just watched it happen. My prayers immediately went out to the crew and families. Sad day, indeed!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.