In article ,
(Locz) writes:
I think this is a good discussion.

Basically, the concept here is: Can *something* be placed into the
cavity to increase the safet margin of the leading edge.
goals:
snip
alternate proposal...

I think a better solution to 1-5 would be to insert an inner
"secondary" RCC curved leading edge within the hollow area of the
primary RCC. My concept would be conceptually similar to a
double-hulled ship.

Not sure about this one, but I'll float it, anyway.

How about beginning by making the first structural member behind the
leading edge out of titanium? Perhaps this just plain can't be a
retrofit, but could it have worked on a new orbiter?

A second swizzle is some sort of cooler (not necessarily cool) air
path from within the fuselage into the leading edge space - possibly
fans, possibly even passive flow. Note I didn't say cool, maybe it's
even a few hundred degrees. But the idea is to change out the gas
content inside the leading edge space. A flaw is that I'm not sure
where to get that cooler air, but possibly an air path through the
cargo bay and blown out through the leading edges. The cargo bay
has to 'leak' somehow, and is presumably chilled from orbit. (What
is its working orbital temperature?)

Might the combination of a titanium structural member behind the
RCC combined with some sort of airflow have saved Columbia, or at
least kept intact until it was low enough for bailout?

Dale Pontius