Greg D. Moore (Strider) wrote:

"Scott Lowther" wrote in message
...
Earl Colby Pottinger wrote:

Really, then name one useful thing learnt from the non-building of the
X-33.

Multi-lobe composite pressure vessels are hard to make. Very hard to
make.

And we didn't know that before?

I believe it was suspected. But some thigns you don't *know* until you
try. it can be easily argued that lessons learned from the X-33 program
were not worth what they cost, but it is a simple lie to suggest that
*nothing* was learned.

Also learned was that the X-33 aerodynamci shape was badly unstable at
Mach 12 or thereabouts. This is definetly new, and the basic X-33 shape
is quite old... late sixties at least.

Learning what *doesn't* work is a perfectly valid lesson. It's our "must
be perfect right out the gate" mentality that does not accept failure
that ahs led us to accomplish *nothing.*

--
Scott Lowther, Engineer
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