On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:37:13 -0500, Eisboch wrote:


The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch

I believe the stated reason, but I'm a little surprised they announced
it. Failure, and it is experimental, could be a bit embarrassing. It
seems to me, they should have just done it.