Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
Volume 4 Index
Hearings of the Presidential
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident: February 6, 1986
to February 25, 1986
FEBRUARY 13, 1986 SESSION. [Part 2 of
2]
[541] [Ref 2/13-36] 51-L FAILURE ANALYSIS STATUS
REPORT
FAILURE SCENARIO (A) - EXTERNAL TANK HYDROGEN LEAK (FIRST EVENT)
EVENT (A1) - LH2 BURNS AND OVERHEATS RIGHT HAND SRM AFT FIELD
JOINT
- 51-L OBSERVATIONS/DATA
(A1.1) ANOMALOUS "SMOKE" STARTING AT (OR NEAR) LIFTOFF COULD BE
ET TPS BURNING (STARTING AT OR NEAR LIFTOFF)
- ANALYSES/DATA
(A1.2) 4 LB/SEC LEAK (0.81" DIAMETER HOLE) WOULD NOT BE
DETECTABLE BY TANK ULLAGE PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS
(A1.3) STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE LH2 TANK IS
MAINTAINED WITH A HOLE GREATER THAN 0.81" DIAMETER
(A1.4) FILM ENHANCEMENT FOR H2 BURNING AT
LIFTOFF/EARLY IN FLIGHT
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