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KB2VXA > TREK 29.02.04 21:57l 50 Lines 2182 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 20901_WT3V
Read: DB0FHN GUEST
Subj: Re: G0TEZ > Apologies
Path: DB0FHN<DB0RGB<DB0FSG<HB9EAS<HB9AK<K1UOL<K1UOL<WB2QJA<KC2COJ<WT3V
Sent: 040229/1540Z @:WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM #:20901 [Lakehurst] $:20901_WT3V
From: KB2VXA@WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
To : TREK@WW
Hi Ian and readers,
Thanks for writing to apologize for your mistakes and setting the record
straight. One must admire a man with the guts to do so, my hat's off to
you sir.
Just to explain a couple of points you're still a bit foggy on, but on
the right track at least. The term "ablative" applies to the heat shield
in as much as it's the material that wears away and dissipates, not the
heat. Ceramic was chosen because of it's excellent thermal
characteristics and durability. It still wears away and the shuttle tiles
must be replaced periodically of course. FYI, the biggest problem with
designing the heat shield was the glue used to bond the ceramic to the
aluminium hull. Like, what the heck sort of stuff do you use that will
bond under such extreme conditions? I can just hear the engineer now,
"Hey Pete, run down to K Mart and get me a case of Crazy Glue!" (;->)
As for Star Trek Enterprise, one may wonder how that "ablative hull
plating" manages to hold up in a firefight! Somehow I think a phaser
blast or disrupter would have a much greater effect than the heat of
reentry. (;->)
Undoubtedly it was I who caused you to get the two space shuttles
confused. I mentioned it was the same attitude of the ground personell in
general that caused both disasters. That fragile O ring got pooh-pooed
and shoved under the carpet only to come back and haunt them. The same
attitude prevailed when the insulation fell from the fuel tank and
damaged the wing, "Oh, it's nothing." seems to have been the fatal last
words. In both cases red flags went up but were dismissed and to make it
worse those who voiced concern were stifled by their superiors.
This is the sort of thing that makes me see RED! Nothing, no matter how
small is inconcequential, two very such things had ENORMOUS concequences!
73 de Warren, KB2VXA@WT3V.#CNJ.NJ.USA.NOAM
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Message timed by cesium laser: 15:49 on 2004-Feb-29 GMT
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