Yep, infrared point and shoot thermometers have some terrific advantages but 
another drawback with 'infra-red' instruments, they are calibrated for one 
value of surface emissivity. Before relying on the value for precision 
measurements you should familiarize yourself with Emissivity.

Someone mentioned the Shuttle disaster and asked how many unfulfilled warnings 
went by before the catastrophe. I've just finished reading a study of the 
incident by a social scientist ("The Challenger Launch Decision") who concludes 
that, contrary to the findings of the Presidential Commission and NASA reports, 
the primary cause was not rule breaking by negligent managers responding to 
pressure. There were mistakes, and their origins can be traced back to the 
change in values and attitudes following the Apollo Missions ten years before 
the Challenger incident.

What bothers me more is the scrapping of the substitute booster program after 
investment of about $500M when Congress changed in 93-94. The original design, 
made in Utah, is still flying, with all its bugs, because of political 
budgetary choices.

Everyone still breathes a sigh of relief when booster separation is complete at 
150,000 feet and Mach N. For you engineers out there, each booster weighs 90 
tons at burnout. Can you imagine the bang that is felt inside the shuttle at 
when the two sets of booster separation solid rocket motors fire 
simultaneously? There are sixteen altogether, four at each end of each booster, 
and each is a foot in diameter. I can recommend Inside The Space Station DVD 
for space enthusiasts. Slow motion the shuttle launch segment and watch the 
bend and springback in between main engine ignition and solid booster ignition. 
That's what tore the joint open on Challenger, cold O ring couldn't bend fast 
enough to seal the gap.



Best Regards

Ted Rook, Console Engineering, ext 4659

Please note our new location and phone numbers:

Crest Audio Inc, 16-00 Pollitt Drive
Fair Lawn, NJ 07410 USA

201 475 4600 telephone receptionist, 8.30 - 5 pm EST.
201 475 4659 direct line w/voice mail, 24 hrs.
201 475 4677 fax, 24 hrs.


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