A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
(OP)
30 Years After Explosion, Challenger Engineer Still Blames Himself
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/28/...
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Note that I've been to the former Morton Thiokol facility, now ATK, mentioned in the above article in Northern Utah and I have to admit, they have not hidden the items involved. In front of the main office building, where anyone can drive-up and park without having to pass through security, they have what they call their 'Rocket Park' where the company has put on display several pieces of hardware related to the companies pioneering work in solid rocket technology, including a full-size example of a shuttle booster as well as individual sections of said booster where one can readily see the 'O-ring' grooves. And while it's true that there was no explicit mention of the significance of them, any engineer (and perhaps even some laypeople) would have no trouble identifying what they're looking at and what their significance was.
The first time I visited ATK's 'Rocket Park' was while on a 'photo safari' with an old classmate and Army buddy of mine (and retired CIA Deputy Director) who's also a serious amateur photographer. We've done this a couple of times and on this occasion we were covering the Northern plateau states of Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Western South Dakota (I may eventually post some more of our photos from the trip on my 'amateur photographers' thread in the 'Hobbies' forum).

Shuttle Booster on display at ATK's 'Rocket Park' near Promontory Point, Utah taken in October, 2009 (Sony A100).

Another angle of the Shuttle Booster (Sony A100).

A section of the Shuttle Booster's body (that's my buddy Dennis and my old Chevy Blazer) (Sony A100).

Placard describing the section of the Shuttle Booster on display (Sony A100).

And finally a close-up of the infamous 'O-ring' grooves from the Booster section (Sony A100).
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/28/...
****************************************************
Note that I've been to the former Morton Thiokol facility, now ATK, mentioned in the above article in Northern Utah and I have to admit, they have not hidden the items involved. In front of the main office building, where anyone can drive-up and park without having to pass through security, they have what they call their 'Rocket Park' where the company has put on display several pieces of hardware related to the companies pioneering work in solid rocket technology, including a full-size example of a shuttle booster as well as individual sections of said booster where one can readily see the 'O-ring' grooves. And while it's true that there was no explicit mention of the significance of them, any engineer (and perhaps even some laypeople) would have no trouble identifying what they're looking at and what their significance was.
The first time I visited ATK's 'Rocket Park' was while on a 'photo safari' with an old classmate and Army buddy of mine (and retired CIA Deputy Director) who's also a serious amateur photographer. We've done this a couple of times and on this occasion we were covering the Northern plateau states of Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Western South Dakota (I may eventually post some more of our photos from the trip on my 'amateur photographers' thread in the 'Hobbies' forum).

Shuttle Booster on display at ATK's 'Rocket Park' near Promontory Point, Utah taken in October, 2009 (Sony A100).

Another angle of the Shuttle Booster (Sony A100).

A section of the Shuttle Booster's body (that's my buddy Dennis and my old Chevy Blazer) (Sony A100).

Placard describing the section of the Shuttle Booster on display (Sony A100).

And finally a close-up of the infamous 'O-ring' grooves from the Booster section (Sony A100).
John R. Baker, P.E.
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.





RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
I read this NPR article last night and found it interesting. I am not a religious man by any means, but that was a very, very heavy statement to read by Eberling:
That's a heck of a mental burden.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
Those photos are the first I've ever seen of the part in question. I wouldn't pass judgement without seeing the entire assembly but your photo of the o-rings seats make me cringe. 1 or 2" lap on bore seals of that diameter seems cutting things close if any flex on the flange is a potential. But I'm sure there's a lot more involved that isn't apparent from the NPR article and your photos. Thanks for sharing this, makes me want to read up on this and learn more about the episode
[Edit - just saw earlier comment]
Anybody read "Truth, Lies, and O-Rings: Inside the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster" ? Sounds like a good take from one of the project engineersRE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
http://www.onlineethics.org/File.aspx?id=13467
Here's the improved joint:
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
John R. Baker, P.E.
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
I worked around many rocket engines, but they were a TOTALLY DIFFERENT "breed" of propulsion. - Mainly with the thrust measurement systems and the dynamics of the very tall test stands which were open steel frame supporting huge fuel and LOX tanks. The loads were all downward until the start of the firing, when they quickly changed when the engines fired. The engine was gimballed and the test firings were from a few seconds to 420 seconds, which ate a lot of fuel. The thrust for the engines was between 180,000 pounds to 1,500,000 pounds depending on the rocket type.
The cryogenics created a maze of insulated stainless steel piping that had many problems with expansion and contraction. Some of the exotic fuels and oxidizers really posed some problems. The strangest one was FLOX (floridated liquid oxgen) that seemed eat almost everything.
Where the solid propellant systems tested "nose up" or "nose down"?
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/photo/final-shut...
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
When they lit off one of their smaller rocket engine tests, it sounded (and felt) like you were standing directly beside one of those "funny car" dragsters - and this was several hundred yards away.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn6OvHofcoo
John R. Baker, P.E.
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:
To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
TTFN
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RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
Keith Cress
kcress - http://www.flaminsystems.com
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
Even seeing a test of the cooling system without the rocket engine firing was impressive, but it was necessary especially to flush out the retention ponds for the cooling water.
On my first week of work (straight out of college), I saw my first rocket test firing and the engine blew up at Edwards AFB, destroying the test stand and there were globs of melted steel dripping off the concrete foundation. There was a debriefing immediately after the event and I was asked if I saw anything unusual, but since it was my first, I had noting to offer.
It was the best experience (like a 2 year vacation), since I saw so many different things. - I also went to graduate school 3 or 4 nights a week for 2 years at USC in Los Angeles with tuition paid plus mileage and credit for dinner since it was after normal working hours. Somehow designing our tilt up manufuaturing building got a little boring.
Dick
Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
Like Dick says, these things are awesome!!
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
While I was looking for the image you're talking about I found this excellent image of a Titan 2 rocket being launched:
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
West of this site is a lake. The small white building on the right side of the lake is where we entertained Navy executives. I designed the deck extension and restrooms for it. I also did the spillway for the lake dam but you can’t see it here. Since this is generally public knowledge now, this is where the Lockheed/Navy bribes occurred and, no I had nothing to do with that.
There's an old landfill under the helipad. Amazing what's in it.
RE: A postscript and a lesson from 30 years ago...
STF