I listened to some of NPR's "Science Friday" yesterday afternoon. One of the topics was the Space Shuttle and the foam insulation. Sorry, but I don't recall who the interviewee was - someone from NASA. One caller asked the same thing that Guy suggested - well, sort of. The caller asked if a net of some kind could be placed over the external tank, but he didn't mention fishnet stockings. Anyway, the interviewee said that NASA had actually considered a similar scenario, but he didn't say why it was ruled out. Maybe designers got nervous about all those new up-skirt cameras that were recently installed on the shuttle? Kim
Kim, I can think of a few possible reasons why the net idea was ruled out. Firstly, it's a 'band-aid' for a flawed insulation adhesive system- makes more sense to repair the original problem than tape-over it with an additional fixative. Secondly, it adds mass, which comes out of payload (just like the hundred new "up skirt" cameras). Thirdly, it adds drag, which is related to the added mass problem and also means longer engine runs. Fourthly, the mesh size would have to be miniscule otherwise you'll possibly be dealing with lots of smaller pieces of foam instead of a few large ones. Fifth, it must be able to handle the aerodynamic stress of launch & flight, otherwise bits of damaged net could be striking the shuttle-imagine long lines whipping around, repeatedly striking the structure, possibly fouling control surfaces, instead of just falling away instantly. Sixth, it hampers maintenance & servicing access to portions of the main tank and could possibly interfere with certain other mechanical operations of the shuttle or launch tower mechanisms. Although the fishnet stocking idea (with seam) has a certain visceral, visual appeal to the average male, perhaps a better everyday item to adapt in this instance would be a condom. It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are better and the fit certainly is, too. --- Kim Hyatt <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
I listened to some of NPR's "Science Friday" yesterday afternoon. One of the topics was the Space Shuttle and the foam insulation. Sorry, but I don't recall who the interviewee was - someone from NASA. One caller asked the same thing that Guy suggested - well, sort of. The caller asked if a net of some kind could be placed over the external tank, but he didn't mention fishnet stockings. Anyway, the interviewee said that NASA had actually considered a similar scenario, but he didn't say why it was ruled out. Maybe designers got nervous about all those new up-skirt cameras that were recently installed on the shuttle?
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I should add that it also means rainbow fiesta colors for an otherwise drab paint scheme. --- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are better and the fit certainly is, too.
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At the risk of going too far with this thread, and I'm pretty sure Chuck just put us over the top, I can actually see a dual purpose for that item that Chuck mentioned, which could be used in lieu of the netting. If NASA were to implement such a device as that which Chuck mentioned, they could attach some cords to it, and after the external tank and the shuttle parted company, the thing that Chuck mentioned could slip off the tank, and with the aid of the attached cords, act as it's own parachute... Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
I should add that it also means rainbow fiesta colors for an otherwise drab paint scheme.
--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are better and the fit certainly is, too.
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You'd be surprised at the number of practical inventions that have been "spawned" from conversations like this. Its good for a laugh, anyway. --- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
At the risk of going too far with this thread, and I'm pretty sure Chuck just put us over the top, I can actually see a dual purpose for that item that Chuck mentioned, which could be used in lieu of the netting. If NASA were to implement such a device as that which Chuck mentioned, they could attach some cords to it, and after the external tank and the shuttle parted company, the thing that Chuck mentioned could slip off the tank, and with the aid of the attached cords, act as it's own parachute...
Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
I should add that it also means rainbow fiesta colors for an otherwise drab paint scheme.
--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are better and the fit certainly is, too.
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Condoms are actually used for underwater recording quite frequently. The microphone goes inside the condom with a tight rubber band around the cable. All the water sounds for "Hunt for Red October" were done this way, for example. I've thought of some really, really bad jokes just now and I'm not going to use any of them. On Jul 30, 2005, at 2:09 PM, Brent Watson wrote:
You'd be surprised at the number of practical inventions that have been "spawned" from conversations like this. Its good for a laugh, anyway.
--- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
At the risk of going too far with this thread, and I'm pretty sure Chuck just put us over the top, I can actually see a dual purpose for that item that Chuck mentioned, which could be used in lieu of the netting. If NASA were to implement such a device as that which Chuck mentioned, they could attach some cords to it, and after the external tank and the shuttle parted company, the thing that Chuck mentioned could slip off the tank, and with the aid of the attached cords, act as it's own parachute...
Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
I should add that it also means rainbow fiesta
colors
for an otherwise drab paint scheme.
--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are
better
and the fit certainly is, too.
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Michael Carnes MichaelCarnes@earthlink.net home.earthlink.net/~MichaelCarnes
They are also used to protect magnetic media from fingerprints during assembly. They are worn on the fingers. Commercially they are known as Finger Cots. --- Michael Carnes <MichaelCarnes@earthlink.net> wrote:
Condoms are actually used for underwater recording quite frequently. The microphone goes inside the condom with a tight rubber band around the cable. All the water sounds for "Hunt for Red October" were done this way, for example. I've thought of some really, really bad jokes just now and I'm not going to use any of them.
On Jul 30, 2005, at 2:09 PM, Brent Watson wrote:
You'd be surprised at the number of practical inventions that have been "spawned" from conversations like this. Its good for a laugh, anyway.
--- diveboss@xmission.com wrote:
At the risk of going too far with this thread, and I'm pretty sure Chuck just put us over the top, I can actually see a dual purpose for that item that Chuck mentioned, which could be used in lieu of the netting. If NASA were to implement such a device as that which Chuck mentioned, they could attach some cords to it, and after the external tank and the shuttle parted company, the thing that Chuck mentioned could slip off the tank, and with the aid of the attached cords, act as it's own parachute...
Quoting Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com>:
I should add that it also means rainbow fiesta
colors
for an otherwise drab paint scheme.
--- Chuck Hards <chuckhards@yahoo.com> wrote:
It doesn't address all of the above concerns but the aerodynamics are
better
and the fit certainly is, too.
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Quoting Brent Watson <brentjwatson@yahoo.com>:
They are also used to protect magnetic media from fingerprints during assembly. They are worn on the fingers. Commercially they are known as Finger Cots.
You wouldn't want to get caught with one of those in your wallet...
This story excerpt and quote from astronaut Stephen Robinson while working with the experimental tile "repair kit" in the shuttle bay caught my eye: "''It's about like pizza dough, like licorice-flavored pizza dough,'' Robinson said as the near-black filler material oozed from his high-tech caulking gun. He used a putty knife to smooth down the substance, again and again." I use a black filler material in my job, high-heat rated, applied with a putty knife- and the stuff smells just like black licorice! I haven't tasted it yet, but then I'm not an astronaut... ;) I bet he's using the same material that I do, or a variation of it. ____________________________________________________ Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
participants (6)
-
Brent Watson -
Chuck Hards -
diveboss＠xmission.com -
Kim Hyatt -
Michael Carnes -
Patrick Wiggins