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NASA Delays Launch of Second Mars Rover
"Henry Spencer" wrote:
In article , Brian Gaff wrote: I'm still a bit confused what the properties of cork are that make it the ideal substance for this job? It's light, it's a good insulator, it chars gradually and predictably, it takes adhesives well, and not least, it's cheap. You could undoubtedly make a synthetic substitute, but why bother? Cheap by aerospace spending standards. I note that there is an artificial cork replacement as a bottle stopper and it is gaining in use because of the difficulties of obtaining sufficient amounts of the natural stuff at reasonable prices. |
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NASA Delays Launch of Second Mars Rover
"Christopher M. Jones" wrote:
"Henry Spencer" wrote: In article , Brian Gaff wrote: I'm still a bit confused what the properties of cork are that make it the ideal substance for this job? It's light, it's a good insulator, it chars gradually and predictably, it takes adhesives well, and not least, it's cheap. You could undoubtedly make a synthetic substitute, but why bother? Cheap by aerospace spending standards. I note that there is an artificial cork replacement as a bottle stopper and it is gaining in use because of the difficulties of obtaining sufficient amounts of the natural stuff at reasonable prices. Actually, the main reason for the use of artificial corks, at least in the wine business, is that the traditional real cork can more easily contaminate the wine. (Hence the term "corked wine", which has a distinct cardboard-like taste.) It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of all wine bottles have some level of "corkedness". (Some people are very good at noticing if a wine is corked, others notice it subconsciously and think that the bottle just isn't that good.) Unfortunately, there hasn't been a long enough period to determine whether the artificial cork replacements have a long-term (10+ years of bottle age) effect on the wine. Oddly enough, the best cork alternatives are probably either the screw top or the crown cap (like on beer and soda bottles.) Unfortunately, neither is likely to catch on for fine, or even table, wine, since they have connotations with wine so bad it can only aspire to being plonk. Oddly enough, the Australians have no problem with bottling fine wine using crown corks (for domestic use), and have found that it doesn't interfere with aging of up to at least 25 years. Sci.space.history content: Bully Hill Winery (upstate New York) has a wine called Space Shuttle Red. http://www.bullyhill.com/descred.asp?id=6 |
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NASA Delays Launch of Second Mars Rover
"Ami A. Silberman" wrote:
Actually, the main reason for the use of artificial corks, at least in the wine business, is that the traditional real cork can more easily contaminate the wine. (Hence the term "corked wine", which has a distinct cardboard-like taste.) It is estimated that between 3% and 10% of all wine bottles have some level of "corkedness". (Some people are very good at noticing if a wine is corked, others notice it subconsciously and think that the bottle just isn't that good.) Noted. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a long enough period to determine whether the artificial cork replacements have a long-term (10+ years of bottle age) effect on the wine. Oddly enough, the best cork alternatives are probably either the screw top or the crown cap (like on beer and soda bottles.) Unfortunately, neither is likely to catch on for fine, or even table, wine, since they have connotations with wine so bad it can only aspire to being plonk. Oddly enough, the Australians have no problem with bottling fine wine using crown corks (for domestic use), and have found that it doesn't interfere with aging of up to at least 25 years. I'm not a wine guy but I've been told that quite a lot of American wine companies are moving toward offering even decently high quality wines in boxes. I found the idea intriguing, but I don't follow developments in the wine world to any degree so I don't know if it's true or not. |
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NASA Delays Launch of Second Mars Rover
In message , Christopher M.
Jones writes "Henry Spencer" wrote: In article , Brian Gaff wrote: I'm still a bit confused what the properties of cork are that make it the ideal substance for this job? It's light, it's a good insulator, it chars gradually and predictably, it takes adhesives well, and not least, it's cheap. You could undoubtedly make a synthetic substitute, but why bother? Cheap by aerospace spending standards. I note that there is an artificial cork replacement as a bottle stopper and it is gaining in use because of the difficulties of obtaining sufficient amounts of the natural stuff at reasonable prices. I'm not sure it's a problem of supply so much as the problem of "corking", which makes wine taste foul. Natural cork is something to be encouraged - it's very environmentally friendly, being a renewable resource which is the basis for a whole ecosystem. Fifteen days and counting :-) -- "Roads in space for rockets to travel....four-dimensional roads, curving with relativity" Mail to jsilverlight AT merseia.fsnet.co.uk is welcome. Or visit Jonathan's Space Site http://www.merseia.fsnet.co.uk |
#5
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NASA Delays Launch of Second Mars Rover
"Christopher M. Jones" wrote in message
... I'm not a wine guy but I've been told that quite a lot of American wine companies are moving toward offering even decently high quality wines in boxes. I come to s.s.h. for all of my wine education So, what *was* in Buzz's lunar communion kit? -- If you have had problems with Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), please contact shredder at bellsouth dot net. There may be a class-action lawsuit in the works. |
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