To: GSlob
17 posted on
06/24/2006 3:17:32 PM PDT by
SunkenCiv
(updated my FR profile on Wednesday, June 21, 2006.)
To: SunkenCiv
"?"-
The tiles on shuttle belly and nose, and on the leading edges of its wings are dark - carbon fiber, offering very serious thermal protection. The tiles on the rest of the shuttle are white- silica-based, offering much less of thermal protection. Thus the black colored surfaces of the shuttle face the maximum thermal load and are in the most need of mechanical protection. Most of these surfaces face the external fuel tank which keeps shedding fragments. If these fragments are to strike the shuttle, let them do it in less critical areas.
19 posted on
06/24/2006 3:29:49 PM PDT by
GSlob
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