STS-124 - Space shuttle Discovery moves to the VAB / Expedition 17

Brian Thorn wrote:

On Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:31:05 GMT, (Derek Lyons)
wrote:

Brian Thorn wrote:

On Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:05:19 GMT, (Derek Lyons)
wrote:


If the STS had liquid boosters, Challenger would be with us

And if NASA and Thiokol had listened to the SRB engineers who said
"it's too dangerous to launch in freezing conditions", Challenger
would also still be with us.

Oversimplifications 'R Us

Same with the original argument. Liquid boosters can kill, too,
especially in a vehicle like Shuttle which has no escape system.

True to both. However there are too many people who believe your
statement to be a complete and honest description of the causes of the
accident. I merely wish to place a light correction into the official
redord.

What I was trying to get at was that the engineers knew there was a
problem with the field joint / o-ring / putty design and that it was
worse with colder temperatures, with 51L being way below the previous
lowest launch temperature. Politicians and management buried the
problem. If they had been allowed to fix it (just the simple joint
heaters would have helped safety a lot in the interim until the
"capture feature" fix became available) it is entirely possible that
the SRB would never have had a fatal accident.

Ah yes, the oversimplifications continue with the introduction of
those well worn stock characters - the Virtuous Engineer and the Evil
Politician with his boon companion Ass Covering Management.

D.
--
Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.

http://derekl1963.livejournal.com/

-Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.
Oct 5th, 2004 JDL

Derek Lyons wrote:
What I was trying to get at was that the engineers knew there was a
problem with the field joint / o-ring / putty design and that it was
worse with colder temperatures, with 51L being way below the previous
lowest launch temperature. Politicians and management buried the
problem. If they had been allowed to fix it (just the simple joint
heaters would have helped safety a lot in the interim until the
"capture feature" fix became available) it is entirely possible that
the SRB would never have had a fatal accident.

Ah yes, the oversimplifications continue with the introduction of
those well worn stock characters - the Virtuous Engineer and the Evil
Politician with his boon companion Ass Covering Management.

Fortunately the Crusty Curmudgeon who puts everyone in their place is
never far away :-\

--
Dave Michelson