posted 05-07-2005 05:56 PM               

Once exposed or used, each canister was shipped back to the factory for re-servicing and repackaging. (Reason, we didn't want to take a chance on using a used canister.) Only enough canisters were installed to perform the test.

I don't recall any sharp edges on the framework or doors that would cut a wire. One might fray or chaff a wire if it was rubbed against it for a long time as anything would against a narrow metal edge. We were in and out of the areas working on various things and I can assure you, if there was a sharp edge, we would have found it and filed it off. We were always on the alert for such things mainly because if an astronaut was in his flight pressure suit and brushed up against a sharp edge or burr, or ran his gloves over a sharp edge, it could puncture his suit. We often ran a cloth over these edges to detect a sharp or hang areas.

Even the so called sharp edge on the lower door panel of the ECU that was supposed to have chaffed a wire was not considered to be sharp. It was narrow but it wouldn't cut anyone or anything.

As for the story of the wire in "Fallen Astronauts," I don't believe it was based on fact or what the investigators found during their investigation.

There are many theories, Scott Grissom Has one, I have one and there are probably many others out there. The problem with all these various theories is no one can really say what happened and the only real evidence is what the many investigators found.

But to come up with a new theory sells books.

The only thing we can be sure of is that it started on the floor directly under Grissom's left foot just in front of the ECU door, well away from the canisters and storage lockers. This is well documented by all the facts known and the fact that Grissom's left boot was burned off and his suit was 70% destroyed, mostly on the left side

Soot marks and directional burn tracks were evidence of flame travel in one direction only, upward. This supports the theory that the investigators came up with. At first we thought that a Lithium Hydroxide canister had exploded, but it was ruled out because none were burned from the inside out.

The subject canisters, or what was left of them, found in the ECU were cut open and no evidence could be found of an internal fire or explosion.

As for what writers say, take most of it with a grain of sand and this statement from the book has all kind of sand on it.