Posts: 69
From: Welwyn Garden City, UK
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 03-23-2016 10:24 PM            

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I was talking to my wife about the Columbia tragedy earlier tonight. She asked about the unusual temperature sensor readings off scale high/low on the port wing called out during re-entry.

She was wondering why the damaged port RCC leading edge panel hadn't prompted a different temp reading to the same area of the starboard wing given that the damaged panel would have allowed much colder air to enter the wing structure during ascent. I didn't have an answer. Any ideas?

Posts: 1015
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012

posted 03-24-2016 04:53 AM            

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The MMACS officer initially reported four off scale low hydraulic temperature readings in the aft part of the port wing — interpreted as failed sensors. He subsequently reported loss of tyre pressure indications on the port main landing gear.

He was not comparing port versus starboard wing temperature readings — that data was unavailable via Operational Flight Instrumentation (i.e. real time).

Posts: 69
From: Welwyn Garden City, UK
Registered: Jan 2005