Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site allegra.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!exodus!mhtsa!mh3bs!eagle!allegra!karn From: karn@allegra.UUCP Newsgroups: net.space,net.columbia Subject: Re: SHUTTLE SNAFU Message-ID: <2273@allegra.UUCP> Date: Thu, 9-Feb-84 22:26:06 EST Article-I.D.: allegra.2273 Posted: Thu Feb 9 22:26:06 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 10-Feb-84 09:02:57 EST References: <387@rayssd.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill Lines: 23 Is there any speculation as to why the rocket motors for the two satellites exploded? Yes - the speculation is that the nozzles were plugged by material from the initiators used to start the engines. This resulted in excessive chamber pressure and eventually blew the nozzles off. In a vacuum, the reduced chamber pressure without a nozzle is insufficient to keep the fuel burning. Did anybody catch which insurance company(s) insured the satellites? Lloyd's of London. Does this mean that the insurance company(s) are going to sue the rocket manufacturers? I doubt it. It's more important that it not happen in the future. Don't feel bad about the insurance companies; they'll just raise their rates. They've been collecting enough on the successful launches in the past. Phil