Message posted by Peter Merlin on January 28, 2012 at 17:03:38 PST:
No, the SRBs were destroyed by the Range Safety officer. I photographed the event, and I also have photos taken by the NASA tracking cameras. Examples of NASA images can be found on pages N-58 and N-59 of Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, Volume III (Appendix N - NASA Photo and TV Support Team Report, April 1986). The report indicates Right SRB Range Safety Systems Destruct at mission elapsed time of 110.250 seconds, and Left SRB Range Safety Systems Destruct at mission elapsed time of 110.252 seconds. According to the Space Transportation System Mission 51-L Structural Reconstruction and Evaluation Report (May 8, 1986): The crew module wreckage was found submerged at a depth of approximately 90 feet, and was concentrated in an area of about 20 feet by 80 feet. Evidence strongly indicated that the crew module remained essentially intact until impact with the water.
"Both solid rocket boosters separated from the external tank and continued powered flight on erratic courses until linear-shaped charges on the SRB's were detonated by the Range Safety Officer."
In Reply to: Re: Challenger posted by Andre' M. Dall'au on January 28, 2012 at 15:46:18 PST:
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