View Single Post
  #23  
Old August 1st 05, 05:48 PM
Carsten A. Arnholm
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

George William Herbert wrote:
The pre-launch reason to have foam there is to prevent ice buildup
on the outside of the tank. Because, if you think foam shedding is
bad for Shuttle Tiles and RCC leading edge sections, you should
see what ten pounds of nice solid liquid-hydrogen subchilled
water ice will do to any surface of the shuttle...

Foam on the outside does both jobs. Foam on the inside of the tanks
would help prevent water ice buildup on the outside, but not help
with ascent heating. External ablative shielding plus internal
foam would do both better than we get right now, but would be
heavier.


Even better would be to put the actual space vehicle in a position where
falling objects will not hit it. That means on the top and not on the side,
under or whatever.

--
Carsten A. Arnholm
http://arnholm.org/
N59.776 E10.457