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To: sionnsar
"My concern is that the energic input (heat) in the braking phase is not likely to be met by the backside (thermal) radiative element. The skin could still heat up to and beyond the failure point."

It's good that you are visualizing the procedure and anticipating possible problems.

There really are some advantages to this design, and to using a flying saucer platform. In this instance, it is atmospheric friction that is causing heating, and the rotating hull surface is backed by counter-rotating rings for atmospheric thrust.

If the heat generated by entry friction cannot be dissipated by radiation alone, the air-movement rings will be pushing the hot air around and using it for deceleration thrust, as well as providing cooling for the hull ablative ring.

788 posted on 05/10/2009 7:57:55 PM PDT by NicknamedBob ("Newspapers mold minds" -- and that's how you get Zombies. They have moldy minds.)
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To: NicknamedBob
All I need to know is will this interrupt my Internet connection?
789 posted on 05/10/2009 8:04:53 PM PDT by ThomasThomas (I just discovered that my neighbor cannot sing.)
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