[meteorite-list] NASA grounds future shuttle flights

From: AL Mitterling <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jul 27 21:06:36 2005
Message-ID: <42E82F8D.3000702_at_kconline.com>

Hi Tom and all,

The tiles aren't sprayed on but manufactured and each has a number and
fits at an exact place on the Space Shuttles. The Shuttle is contoured
and so each Tile is a bit different from other tiles and why they are
carefully numbered and placed. They use an adhesive glue (type) to
secure the tiles. Certain tiles can take more atmospheric heat than
other tiles. (black more heat, white less heat)

It is not uncommon for tiles to be replaced during flights. A certain
amount of damage has always occurred to some degree but not to the
extent that doomed the Columbia. Also they use to paint the ET (external
tank) white. They saved money (from weight and paint) by eliminating
that step but perhaps the paint would work to secure the foam better on
the ET.
The reason for the foam is to insulate the cold fluids that are the
propellants for the main engines on the inside of the ET. It also acts
to keep the build up of ice (from humidity outside) to a minimum so it
doesn't fall off and damage tiles or other sensitive area on the Shuttle.

I think that the news media is making more out of this than needs to be
done. However damaged tiles under and around the shuttle that protect it
from re-entery is a concern along with thousands of other items that can
be catastrophic in the event problems in those areas occur.

--AL
Received on Wed 27 Jul 2005 09:06:21 PM PDT