Bulgarian_Taffer on 18/11/2006 at 15:51
Twe two major incidents are BOTH connected to Solid Rocket Motor problems. Firstly, because the o-rinngs are part of the SRB, secondly, because the foam loss is due to the vibration of the SRB-s. The shuttle doesn't have an emergency escape system. True, there were ejection seats during the first flights of Columbia, however, they would be useless if a challenger-like ot columbia-like disaster happens.
PS:
It's not a matter of explosion. It's a matter of all these vibrations.
BTW a VAB accident will be worse than an in flight accident. Have you head something about Titan solid motor problems?
EDIT 2: Jonesy... liquid rockets would be a problem. That's why the Soviets cancelled Buran very early. But making the liquid rocket boosters reusable will be very cheap. Yes, SRBs are reusable, but it costs very much to fill them again, transport them and attach them to the ET. And it's dangerous, because once they are filled there's always chance for VAB or on-pad accident. Good thing for the private industry is that Elon Musk searches for a way to make his Falcon 9 fully reusable.
Bulgarian_Taffer on 18/11/2006 at 16:17
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Why do solid rocket motors explode? They explode because the pressure becomes too high inside and the casing can no longer withstand it and bursts. The heavy-duty construction of the SRB largely eliminates this possibility as long as the burn rate doesn't go out of control, which makes it different then other solid rockets. Since the fuel grain can't really shatter, as its made of rubber, this will prevent the the large increase in surface area that would cause a catastrophic overpressure. Liquid fueled engines on the other hand are the opposite, if there is a serious failure, a catastrophic explosion is the rule and not the exception. The main point about having the combustion slow down with a major pressure loss is so the crew can escape, not so much to avoid an explosion, since the SRB's heavy construction pretty much precludes this already. If you do have a serious leak, that does drop the thrust and increases abort survivability, and if its not a serious leak - then what's the problem?
Disagree. Kerosene can't be ignited easily. In fact, there are serious risks only with cryogenic fuel.
Jonesy on 18/11/2006 at 16:38
Saying that the SRBs were the direct cause of the challenger is like saying that the engine was the direct cause of your car accident when you were in fact running on four flat tires. Regarding the Titan launch vehicles, the fuel is very different from that used in Titan. We can continue arguing this back and forth.
I live less than an hour from the shuttle launch platforms so I could probably drive over there and ask them myself.
Bulgarian_Taffer on 18/11/2006 at 16:44
Well, why don't you do it... it will be interesting for me to hear.
