Yes, weight was a significant factor -- 800 pounds.
David Erbas-White
Yes, weight was a significant factor -- 800 pounds.
David Erbas-White
How many rocket-scientists does it take, to come up with a practical idea for preventing foam shedding? :-)
I'm surprised that nobody came up with the idea of covering the foam with a lightweight fabric wrap. A single layer of kevlar would prevent the foam from flying away from the tank, yet only decrease the orbiters' payload capacity by less than a ton.
Too simple a concept, I guess...
The 'coating' was merely white paint. I agree, though - covering the foam with something to help maintain its' integrity is a good thing. :-)
Since the foam appears to be sprayed-on and cured in-place (similar to the two-part polyurethane foam many of us have used), I have an idea:
Simply stretch some kind of "netting" woven out of fiberglass, kevlar, or carbon fiber over the outside of a bunch of foam spacers that have been glued at intervals to the surface of the tank (or "dollops" of the same foam), and then spray on the foam so that the netting is embedded just below the surface of the final foam layer. To visualize this, think of a high-tech cross between the nylon mesh netting that forms a "carry bag" for Butterball turkeys, and the wire mesh supported on concrete blocks that is used for reinforcing poured concrete slabs, like driveways.
The fiber net would be lightweight, but very strong in tension, and would "toughen" the surface of the foam, holding any cracked pieces larger than the gaps in the net firmly in position. That way, even if the foam cracks into huge chunks, it won't fall off the tank and damage anything during ascent.
- Rick "dollops?" Dickinson
Not that it's not a good idea, but it's about the 89th time I've seen it
-- don't know why it's not been adopted. I joined in some discussion about it with folks right after the Columbia disaster, but the 'consensus' seemed to be the weight factor. My attitude would be that if a little weight saves their lives, maybe it's worth it?
Don't feel bad, I suggested the same thing myself back then, and then found all the other folks who'd made the same suggestion...
David Erbas-White
The white paint WAS eliminated due to weight.
Len Lekx wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Shrink-wrap it. Like they do for palletized cargo these days. ;-)
"The Rocket Scientist" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
Problem is claimed to date from when Freon was discontinued and a new foam formulation used,causing adhesion problems.
Maybe the ET was originally just painted white and they decided to use foam to prevent ice like the old Saturn rockets had dropping off upon launch.
They should wrap it in panty hose.
How much does 13,000 square feet of Kevlar weigh?
Mario
They always had foam.
Len Lekx wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:
Two words - duct tape.
Seriously, why not fiberglass cloth over the foam to hold it all together?
Well, let's see, 6oz cloth weighs 6 oz/yd^2, 2oz cloth about 2oz...
kaplow snipped-for-privacy@encompasserve.org.mars (Bob Kaplow) wrote in news:$ snipped-for-privacy@eisner.encompasserve.org:
Well, I think the "big mesh bag" idea would work well, and be lighter than a "solid" layer of fiber plus resin. What about encorporating a re- enforcing material INTO the styrofoam (glass or kevlar fibers). It's done with a lot of things, from concrete to pyrotechnic mines and comets.
I say use chicken feathers.
Chicken fries. Mmmm.
BK for lunch today, me thinks.
"BOB YOUR HEAD"
Buck?
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