Part 2: Gumshoes Summary and Analysis

The Commission members are at gathered at Cape Kennedy. They review numerous photos from the many cameras that encircle the shuttle on take-off. They focus on the spot adjacent to the O-rings where large puffs of dark smoke are obvious. The trails of smoke are approximately six feet long and two feet thick. The members find out later that there had never been such trails of smoke in any launch before. One of the launch workers informs the group that the temperature was very cold over that night 22 degrees, but curiously some spots around the launch registered as low as 8 degrees. The worker did not understand why it was that low.

Richard surmises that the very low temperature that was registered that night could have been due to the liquid hydrogen and oxygen which could lower the temperature below...