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From: steve@eos.UUCP (Steve Philipson)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle,sci.space
Subject: Fuel based explosions [was: Re: USSR and the Moon ]
Message-ID: <2025@eos.UUCP>
Date: 30 Nov 88 22:51:40 GMT
References: <880@cernvax.UUCP> <18263@ames.arc.nasa.gov> <18420@ames.arc.nasa.gov> <7827@ihlpl.ATT.COM> <79302@sun.uucp> <2735@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Reply-To: steve@eos.UUCP (Steve Philipson)
Organization: NASA Ames Research Center, Calif.
Lines: 40

In article <2735@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu> doug@loihi.hig.hawaii.edu (Doug Myhre) writes:
>In article <79302@sun.uucp>, fiddler%concertina@Sun.COM (Steve Hix) writes:

   [desription of a fuel/air bomb deleted]

>>If the rocket first suffered a small explosion that ruptured its tanks,
>>then the resulting fuel/oxidizer cloud gets ignited...it might have
>>the described effect.

>I would think that the initial explosion would ignite the fuel before
>it's had a chance to spread out that fine.
>It does remind me of the experiment that the Air Force (I think) did
>where they deliberately crashed a plane to test a new jet fuel mixture.
>The mixture supposable wouldn't ignite as easily when a place crashed and
>the fuel was spread out in a fine spray.  From the news footage, it didn't
>look as if it worked very well.

   The test you are refering to was an FAA test including a JPL developed
experimental anti-misting fuel.  The crash and contact with towers designed
to rip open the wing tanks spread the fuel as intended.  The fuel 
initially worked as the first flash fire went out very quickly.  A few
seconds later the fuel re-ignited and engulfed the aircraft in flame.
The test yielded much valuable data, but was seen by the media as a 
gross failure.  

   The break-up of an aircratf or rocket structure need not provide an
immediate ignition source for the dispersed fuel to ignite/explode.
The shock wave produced from an explosion in one section of the craft
could cause structural failure elsewhere without an ignition event.
Fuel would thus be dispersed and mixed with oxidant (air, if nothing
else), which would allow a later, much larger explosion.

   Explosions of this type occured during early NASA rocket development
tests.  Some of that footage is available for viewing in the movie
"The Right Stuff".
-- 

						   Steve
					(the certified flying fanatic)
					    steve@aurora.arc.nasa.gov