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To: truthfreedom
Well, doesn’t the space shuttle withstand intense heat on re-entry?

Yes, but the space shuttle is essentially a glider that re-enters the earth's atmosphere nose up, with its belly exposed to the heat of re-entry. The belly is covered with heat-resistant tiles, but not the rest of the orbiter.

That technology won't help us with designing a jet engine that can ingest volcanic ash and keep running.

If the windshield glass is a problem, use space shuttle technologies to make the windshield glass more scratch resistant.

The windows on the space shuttle aren't any more scratch resistant than the windows on a 747. They're not meant to resist the pummeling of re-entry.

Building an ash-proof airplane is going to require some new technology.

40 posted on 04/21/2010 12:17:58 AM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Windflier

Or expensive technology. I can’t imagine that they can’t get treated glass for the windows at this time. There are a lot of people working on new materials. Engines probably the biggest problem. Volcanic ash gets hot in engines and melts - adding a coating of molten glass (from what I hear). Non stick coating on jet engine parts so the glass does not stick to the jet engine. Perhaps a vent somewhere, so the molten glass does not accumulate in the engine, but is removed to where it can be removed easier. Perhaps a molten glass trap. People have mentioned air filters before. It’s been said that wouldn’t work. So, a better air filter.


42 posted on 04/21/2010 2:14:36 AM PDT by truthfreedom
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