From: andrew.gray@dunelm.org.uk   
      
   On 2004-07-06, Andrew Nowicki  wrote:   
   >   
   > Are you talking about the first stage, the second stage,   
   > or the third stage? The external tanks of the Space   
   > Shuttle do not survive the reentry, and even the orbiters   
   > do not always survive the reentry. On the other hand the   
   > Shuttle's solid rocket boosters do survive reentry and   
   > splashdown.   
      
   There is, I believe, some concern that the ET may survive the re-entry   
   in parts, but that aside. (It's deliberately tumbled to assist in   
   breakup)   
      
   The SRBs are dropped at about 120s into the ascent; the ET at about   
   510s. I can't find an indication of the speed at which the SRBs   
   seperate, but the ET seperation is at ~17,500mph and orbital altitude;   
   significantly different entry regimes.   
      
   --   
   -Andrew Gray   
    andrew.gray@dunelm.org.uk   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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