Aresearch.35
net.columbia
utzoo!decvax!duke!chico!harpo!research!sjb
Wed Sep 16 23:30:32 1981
shuttle tests
A test of the water-spraying system was completed today, with
``complete success'' as the result. The system, in combination
with steel plates, is hoped to lessen shock waves caused by
the shuttle's two solid fuel rocket boosters. The SRB's were
not fired--this was only a test of the plumbing, in which around
200,000 gallons of water were sprayed into the nozzles of the
SRB's. The shock waves, produced from expanding air on ignition
of the SRB's during the April lift off, were 4 times the expected
amount. They bent supporting struts on the shuttle's external
tank and moved locked winged supports, endangering the landing.
The water and plates are hoped to deaden and absorb whatever
vibrations occur from the ignition of the SRB's (which are, incidentally,
not the ones used in April. Those are being repaired and will
be used in a future mission.)
The results from the test increase the chance that the 50 foot
robot arm, made in Canada, and a number of scientific experiments
will be taken on this five-day mission.
The next step on the road to the 5 October countdown and 9 October
lift off is a week of loading fuel into the shuttle itself.
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