[AR] Re: SpaceX failure update
- From: Henry Spencer <hspencer@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: arocket@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2016 16:56:46 -0400 (EDT)
On Fri, 14 Oct 2016, John Dom wrote:
Apollo 13's LOX tank exploded because *Teflon* ignited in LOX (albeit
after being somewhat degraded by an earlier episode of prolonged
accidental baking).
Odd, last I ever read was that voltage issue causing overheating,
mentioned here: http://www.space.com/8193-caused-apollo-13-accident.html
PTFE igniting?
Read it more carefully. The voltage mixup caused prolonged overheating
during earlier ground testing -- that's the "baking" part that I
mentioned, which degraded the Teflon insulation. And then, in flight,
when Swigert turned on the tank-stirring system, the result was a spark
which ignited the remains of the Teflon. This is well documented,
although you may have to read things printed on paper :-) to get a full
account with all the details.
Henry
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