OT: Shuttle Breaks Up During Re-Entry

[tbontob]

Originally posted by geoschmo:

quote:

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Originally posted by Taz-in-Space:
By the way, did anyone catch the mis-information
that someone at NASA tried... it was stated that the pieces could be toxic and not to pick up and handle them. Some fable about fuel contamination. Imagine, 3000 or so degree heat on re-entry and some fool says that this fuel may still be there!

Not some fool, a rocket scientist. It's not mis-information, it's a fact.

To burn the fuel you have to mix it with oxygen. It is not extrodinary at all that measurable amounts of fuel would remain unburned when you consider the speed at shich the ship fell apart, and the altitude. Very thin atmosphere at that point.

Pieces were getting blown off and flying off due to Ge forces. Once they got away from the oxygen in the fireball they would burn out from lack of oxygen. Explosions can put out fires as well as ignite them. That's why they use dynamite to stop oil well fires.

Geoschmo

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Yes I caught it too!

As you say the shear forces of the wind would be extraordinarily high. The friction would heat the pieces to almost molten metal and any residue would be boiled or burnt off before or on impact.

I just put it to the administration wanting to give souvenier hunters second thoughts.