On Sun, 2 Feb 2003 16:01:38 -0500, you ("Woody Emanuel" <bwe@adelphia.net>)
wrote:
>The left wing elevon sensors are the ones that cut out.
>But that gives about seven minutes until loss of contact
>during which time NASA reports all flight characteristics
>were perfectly normal. That doesn't jive with disintegration
>starting seven minutes earllier over California.
We know by now that flight data in terms of sensor readings certainly
wasn't perfectly normal. Following the sensor reading loss at 8:53 EST, MCC
saw several more sensors failing or reading off-nominal temperatures in the
seven minutes up to final LOS. That's far from "perfectly normal",
actually. They could see something was going on slowly but surely since :53
(that's not to say they were fully aware at that time), and the crew was at
least aware of the tire issue. Also we have pretty strong indication of
visible yet minor debris parts in the re-entry path over California, and we
can't easily dismiss those reports considering how numerous these reports
are by now. Flight characteristics in terms of what NASA PAO reports live
during the re-entry is trajectory and vehicle orientation data, all of
which certainly appeared fairly normal up to the sudden major breakup. The
elevons themselves don't play an overly significant role in the initial
entry interface other than adding to the aerodynamic resistance of the
wings and underbelly of the vehicle, all of the steering is done via RCS
thrusters.
CU! Markus
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