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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