On Thu, 06 Nov 2003 00:08:16 -0500, Patrick McConnell wrote:

They could replace the whole spar with a Carbon/Carbon part. Granted, I've
never heard of a major C/C structural part like a spar before but hey, this
*is* rocket science.

Hmmm... how would the C/C compare in strength vs. weight against aluminum?

At least then you wouldnt be adding parasitic weight. Maybe it'd even be
lighter.

Err... isn't it denser than aluminum?... have to look it up.

The would mean a major rebuild of the wing though. Billions and billions of
$.

But would a c/c spar have saved the electric. electronic, and hydraulic
runs? Or would they have been cut anyway?

In other words if the aluminum hadn't melted, but all the leads and runs
were cut... would the orbiter have survived to bailout altitude?

Patrick

--
Chuck Stewart
"Anime-style catgirls: Threat? Menace? Or just studying algebra?"