|
|
For the first time since the space shuttle Challenger explosion, four optical web strips introduce synchronized film and video frames from the 51-L fireball. This first strip presents the three possible two-at-a-time combinations from the following NASA sources: (1) an end view from film camera E203 (west), (2) a side view from the boresight video camera for film camera E204 (south), and (3) a side view from the boresight video camera at Ponce de Leon (north).
The frame rate of these three cameras is 30 f/s. The footage was obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). All four web strips provide the linked aerial photo
Fireball Exit for a 'top view' reference. This strip begins with the segment combination described by the heading below.
Kennedy Space Center (West) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
73.13
|
73.13
|
The aft fire can be detected in the frames above, on the hydrogen tank's right (north) side.
73.17
|
73.17
|
In the frames above, the liquid hydrogen spillage appears to be heaviest on the right-aft side.
73.20
|
73.20
|
The first faint indication of the "midbody flash" appears in the frames above, but only to the south.
73.23
|
73.23
|
73.27
|
73.27
|
The LOX flash is first seen in the above frames, at the left-forward attach (south).
73.30
|
73.30
|
In the surprising color frame on the above left, the
evidential contrast between south and north (a missing R-aft "plume") has
never been publicly illustrated and explained by NASA. (Until that happens, a
limited-value reference sequence may be found in the official NASA images at
http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p28.htm and at
http://history.nasa.gov/rogersrep/v1p29.htm .)
73.33
|
73.33
|
73.37
|
73.37
|
The booster-crossing sequence begins above, along with 3-D captioning of its fireball progression. This secret crossing has great legal significance, since it disproves the "veering" alleged by NASA.
73.40
|
73.40
|
In the frames above, one would expect to see the LOX sphere moving to the south, in NASA's hypothesized "conformed trajectory" for the orbiter and the left SRB. Instead, the
LOX sphere remains fixed -- on the thrust beam still connecting the tops of the two nosed-in but tilted boosters.
73.43
|
73.43
|
73.47
|
73.47
|
73.50
|
73.50
|
73.53
|
73.53
|
73.57
|
73.57
|
On the right above, the left booster pivots
to the north (along with its now diminished, formerly south-side LOX sphere), while the right
booster pivots south (each in its own ball-joint socket).
73.60
|
73.60
|
73.63
|
73.63
|
73.67
|
73.67
|
73.70
|
73.70
|
Kennedy Space Center (West) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
This page continues with the next segment combination, as described by the heading below.
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Kennedy Space Center (West)
73.13
|
73.13
|
The aft fire is apparent in the frames above, on the hydrogen tank's right (north) side.
73.17
|
73.17
|
Heavy liquid hydrogen spillage begins on the right-aft side, as indicated by the frames above.
73.20
|
73.20
|
In the frame on the right above, liquid hydrogen spillage begins
to appear on the south.
73.23
|
73.23
|
The first glimpse of NASA's "midbody flash" appears above, but only in the frame on the right.
73.27
|
73.27
|
The first indication of the LOX flash is seen above on the right, at the left-forward attach (south).
73.30
|
73.30
|
Here (in the frame on the above right) size and intensity of the "midbody flash" suddenly increases. Compare the above with this
synchronized
E216 Frame,
also from a film camera to the west.
73.33
|
73.33
|
73.37
|
73.37
|
The booster-crossing sequence begins above, along with 3-D captioning of its fireball progression.
73.40
|
73.40
|
73.43
|
73.43
|
73.47
|
73.47
|
73.50
|
73.50
|
73.53
|
73.53
|
On the left above, the right booster swivels
to the south, while the left booster (with its LOX sphere) swivels to the north. (They leave
their ball-joint sockets as the crossing progresses.)
73.57
|
73.57
|
73.60
|
73.60
|
Above on the left, the LOX sphere diminishes while the left booster's aft flare begins to appear through the right booster's exhaust. (The left-aft flare soon becomes more prominent.)
73.63
|
73.63
|
73.67
|
73.67
|
73.70
|
73.70
|
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Kennedy Space Center (West)
The next few frames introduce the last fireball segment. These reference frames have been included to contrast (north to south) the increasing effect of burning hydrogen on contrail thinning.
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
57.9
|
57.9
|
66.9
|
66.9
|
69.9
|
69.9
|
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
This page concludes with the final segment combination, as described by the heading below.
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
|
73.13
|
73.13
|
The aft fire can be more easily detected in the frames above, on the hydrogen tank's north side.
|
73.17
|
73.17
|
Heavy liquid hydrogen spillage begins on the right-aft side, as confirmed by the frames above.
|
73.20
|
73.20
|
Above, the first faint indication of NASA's "midbody flash" appears in the frame on the right.
|
73.23
|
73.23
|
In the frame on the left above, note the absence of any north-side source for the "midbody flash."
|
73.27
|
73.27
|
The LOX flash is first seen in the frame on the above right, at the left-forward attach (south).
|
73.30
|
73.30
|
Compare the above video with this
synchronized
E216 Frame,
from a film camera to the west.
|
73.33
|
73.33
|
|
73.37
|
73.37
|
The booster-crossing sequence begins above, along with 3-D captioning of its fireball progression. This crossing is of great legal significance, since it is contrary to the "veering" alleged by NASA.
|
73.40
|
73.40
|
In the frames above, the LOX sphere does not "veer" to the south, in the "conformed trajectory" NASA hypothesized for the orbiter and the left SRB. The LOX sphere remains at an
apex -- on the left-SRB side of the thrust beam between the two nosed-in but differently tilted boosters.
|
73.43
|
73.43
|
|
73.47
|
73.47
|
|
73.50
|
73.50
|
|
73.53
|
73.53
|
As one can see above, the right booster swivels
to the south, while the left booster (with its LOX sphere) swivels to the north. (They both leave
their ball-joint sockets as the crossing progresses.)
|
73.57
|
73.57
|
In the above frames, the left booster pivots
to the north (along with its now diminished, formerly south-side LOX sphere), while the right
booster pivots south (each in its own ball-joint socket).
|
73.60
|
73.60
|
Above, the LOX sphere diminishes further, while
the left booster's aft flare begins to appear through the right booster's exhaust. (Later the left-aft
flare becomes prominent to the north.)
|
73.63
|
73.63
|
|
73.67
|
73.67
|
|
73.70
|
73.70
|
Ponce de Leon (North) vs Patrick Air Force Base (South)
For other web strips, click
Strip 2,
Strip 3, or
Strip 4. Go to the main page by clicking
Home.
| |
