Challenger - docuseries on 1986 Challenger explosion -- Netflix

It seems at this point, NASA felt a lot of pressure to keep the program rolling.

NASA's mentality in the 80s is interesting. Seems everything they did was to gain interest in the public eye to maintain their programs. That was the only reason the teacher was on that flight. To gain interest in the public.

And NASA knew they needed to put up launches to keep the ball rolling. No way they could push back launches for 2 years to really investigate what was going on.

I'm interested to finish the series, but that's kinda where my thoughts are at this point of the series.

I have learned more about the solid rocket propulsion and the dangers it possesses.

The NASA officials were guilty of negligent homicide.

What is Ep2 ???

This stuff is in my wheelhouse and I’ve never heard of this doc.

I was working on the SRB refurbishment contract at KSC when Challenger exploded and watched it from the VAB. From 1981 - 1986 the NASA Administrator, James Beggs, promoted the idea that Shuttle was a space taxi and could/should fly every two weeks, which was impossible. But there were NASA posters everywhere saying "We hear you Mr. Beggs", acknowledging his direction. The workforce pushed schedule over everything to attain high cadence launches.

NASA was needing to keep attention on their programs to keep funding coming from the govt. NASA needs the publics attention and they have also tried that by following the Green crowd. This is not related to Challenger but about how they have latched onto the Global Warming Crowd. Especially starting in the 90's.

This what I saw while working at the NASA Michoud Facility in New Orleans while attending LSU.

The External Fuel Tank was built here and during this time (1999-2001) there was a transition to a new foam that didn't use the old aerosol to spray the foam. It was a greenhouse gas so they switched to a greenhouse friendlier aerosol. I don't recall the names of the gases.

Instead of trying to get a waiver to continue use of the tried and true aerosol, they went forward with a new one, which required a lot of certification process.

I was a data miner and cruncher that cataloged lab results for the foam. The results were from coupon test to determine the strength of the foam, its adhesion strength to surfaces at -300 & -400deg, and how it performs in near vacuum conditions.

There many parameters to cover for spraying conditions as well and each had to be tested. How fast you spray a layer and how quick the second layer, and subsequent layers are applied.

The new stuff wasn't quite as good and if I remember correctly it was much more sensitive during the application phase and it's properties deteriorated if parameters varied slightly.

Cameras were put into solid rocket boosters to monitor the foam coming off around the ribbed area that connects the O2 tank and Hydrogen tank. This is the area that lost foam and the foam would then strike the ceramic tiles of the shuttle. Foam hits were counted when the shuttle landed.

My first thought when Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry was I bet it was Foam damage to a tile.

My point here is that NASA willingness to spend needless money to certify a new foam which wasn't as good, because they wanted to please the Greens. Why couldn't a waiver by provided for the continued use of CFC aerosol for the space program. You only build 2 or 3 a year.

Sorry to hijack the thread , thanks for the info. I'll have to check the documentary out before I cancel Netflix.

Just watched the opening. Very emotional and I remember that fateful day as if it was yesterday.

quote:

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I remember the media interviewed a few sharks after the tragedy. The sharks said it wasn’t bad for airline food.

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How did they know the Challenger astronauts had dandruff?


















They found their Heads and Shoulders on the beach.