"Doug Ellison" wrote in message ...
"Chuck Stewart" wrote in message
news
On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 21:23:37 +0100, Doug Ellison wrote:

"Paul F. Dietz" wrote in message
...
Doug Ellison wrote:

Really? You could fill all that space with foam with zero mass?

Foam that would tolerate being in contact with white-hot RCC
material, no less.

Forgot that bit

Foam that has zero mass, enormous heat resistance, is flight qualified,
will
not outgas on orbit, and will make you coffee in the morning

Aha!

Aerogel!

Aerogel just like those used in insulating blocks on the Mars
Sojourner Rover!

Aerogel stripped from a Rover is ust the ticket... aerogel filler
will have next-to-zero mass, heat resistance, is flight qualified,
will not outgas on orbit, and the Rover can make you coffee in the
morning.

Problem solved...


Genuine thought process I once had

"That aerogel stuff looks really cool. They should make an office toy out of
it. A paperweight or something"

LMFAO - a PAPERWEIGHT!!

:P

Still - they SHOULD make an office toy out of it :P

Doug


From reading the responses here it sounds like you guys are the same
ones that designed the leading edge without the foam filling.

Practically the foam would have no appretiable weight so that point is
mute.
The foam inside would not be exposed to the heat of the outside.
As for flight qualifying the foam thats a ridiculous burocrat's
statement. All kinds of airplanes are made using composits and there
are fire resistant foams in common use.
My original point stands.

Zoltan