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le_daim
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Challenger disaster: how full was the external tank at the time of destruction?

We have all heard about the Challenger disaster.

Reading the Vehicle breakup subsection, this sentence made me very curious:

The external tank at this point suffered a complete structural failure, the LH2 and LOX tanks rupturing, mixing, and igniting, creating a fireball that enveloped the whole stack.

I know it is not the explosion which destroyed the whole vehicle but aerodynamic forces, but I wonder:

  • How much liquid fuel and oxidizer were left in the external tank at the time of its destruction?

Bonus question:

  • How many seconds were left before SRB separation?

I couldn't find any information, so thank you for your answers!

le_daim
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