Report of the PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION
on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident
Volume 5 Index
Hearings of the Presidential
Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident: February 26,
1986 to May 2, 1986.
MARCH 7, 1986 SESSION (part 2 of
2)
[1199] [Ref. 3/7-71 1 of
2] Failure Scenario 4A.
FAILURE SCENARIO 4A
FAILURE MECHANISM
- PRIMARY O-RING BLOW-BY/LEAKAGE AND LEAKAGE
PAST SECONDARY O-RING DUE TO O-RING DEFECT
ASSESSMENT METHOD
- ANALYSIS OF CLOSEOUT PHOTOS
- REVIEW OF RECORDS
- SPECIAL INSPECTION OF O-RINGS
- TESTS TO EVALUATE PERFORMANCE OF SIMULATED
O-RING DEFECT AND TO EVALUATE LEAK TEST OF O-RING WITH SIMULATED
DEFECT
FINDINGS TO DATE
- CLOSEOUT PHOTO FOR STS 51-L AFT FIELD
JOINT SHOWS SUSPECT SECONDARY O-RING
- PHOTO ANALYSIS IN PROGRESS
- OTHER CLOSEOUT PHOTOS IN REVIEW
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