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.
FEBRUARY 26, 1986 SESSION (part 1 of
2)
[905] [Ref. 2/26-4 11 of
14] Technical Issues (Cont) -Temperature effects.
TECHNICAL ISSUES (CONT)
- TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
- THERMAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE SRM
FOLLOWS DAILY TEMPERATURES TO A DEPTH OF FIVE INCHES
- PUTTY BECOMES STIFFER AND LESS
TACKY
- O-RING BECOMES HARDER
- A VITON O-RING WITH 70 DUROMETER AT
70°F CAN INCREASE TO 85 DUROMETER AT
20°F
- TEMPERATURE PRIOR TO FLIGHT DROPPED
TO 17°F
- TEMPERATURE SQUEEZE REDUCED BY
[approximately] 1% DUE TO A 4°F DELTA
Back