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Old November 8th 10, 08:32 PM posted to sci.space.policy
Alan Anderson[_2_]
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Default The First Step in Creating a Space Age - Treat Earth as a Planet

On Nov 8, 2:28*am, Fred J. McCall wrote:
So I guess the Hindenberg didn't really explode and burn, then?


It didn't explode. Really.

It did burn, but blaming the hydrogen is almost certainly wrong.
Burning hydrogen gas produces a pretty blue smokeless flame. The
Hindenberg burned bright yellow, with plenty of smoke. Hydrogen rises.
A lot of the burning material fell. Ignition of the aluminum paint on
the airship's skin, perhaps from a discharge of static electricity, is
a very reasonable explanation for what happened.