What specific substance, insulation covering the wiring, was ignited inside the oxygen tank leading to the explosion?
Answer
Teflon insulation
The investigation into the cause of the explosion traced the failure back to compromised wiring insulation inside the oxygen tank. During earlier handling on the ground, the tank was dropped, likely scraping off some of the protective Teflon insulation covering the internal wiring. Later, when ground crews applied excessive voltage to the tank's heaters during a pre-launch test, this exposed wiring short-circuited, causing the Teflon insulation to ignite. The subsequent explosion in flight occurred when this compromised system was activated under operational conditions.
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