PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Did it really happen the way they said? The Challenger revisited.
Old 5th Feb 2003, 23:52
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Blacksheep
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Yes Bre901, its very easy to get a LOX explosion. We used LOX on military transports (I assume they still do, too - the good old VC10 remains in service) and during hot weather it was customary to use the stuff to fast chill a Coke. You had to be careful to keep the Coke cans clean, though. One day one of our engine fitters didn't realise he'd transferred a film of grease from his greasy hands onto his Coke can and as soon as the vented LOX vapour hit it - BANG! Most impressive! Without any source of ignition too! I believe that can of Coke is still in orbit.

Still, it was a most impressive demonstration of two important safety points.

1. The guys who write the safety precautions know what they are talking about.
2. Complacency is the greatest danger faced by engineers.

Both these safety points are relevant to the Challenger accident. (Columbia too, I think)

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