[snopercod]

Yes, I was at KSC for both 51L and STS-26.

The warnings on the debris are just words out of their "contingency procedure". There is no way that any Nitrogen Tetroxide or Monomethyl Hydrazine could survive the re-entry heat.

It's too bad the the OPS recorders and especially the OEX recorder will not survive the re-entry either. The OEX recorder has the strain gage and temperature data on the wings, elevons, and fuselage.

[bonesmccoy]

NO4 and hydrazine are indeed hypergolics. But, the fumes are toxic and people should not approach debris.

I agree with your comment regarding the concept that the material is unlike to survive to impact, but outgassing from intact dewars could pose a risk to the individuals around a hypothetically surviving tank.

[bonesmccoy]

Doesn't OPS and OEX send downlink to JSC MOCR?

Or is the data stored onboard for later replay?