[Little Pig]

Yes, I know originally it was paint. However, IMHO the shuttle just looked better all one color. My meaning was that, if they can go back to the original foam, maybe this time they can get it formulated so it is white to match the rest of the orbiter. Heck, wasn't there some incident recently where some high-dollar program used some cheap OTS item and it turned out to work better than the expensive stuff they had had custom-made for the program? Maybe they can use that spray-on foam caulk to insulate the tank. You know, the stuff you use to fill spaces in walls and make "custom" shipping padding?

I do not know what is preventing this, other than maybe the threat of a lawsuit (the original change was motivated by a lawsuit IIRC).

[Calvin Locke]

...some cheap OTS item and it turned out to work better than the expensive stuff...

Reminds me of a mechanic that told me to buy cheap cans of rust proofing if I had a problem.

Also, I read a computer article about a guy modding his pc, probably for overclocking. He didn't like the noise and
used that spray foam caulk to try to insulate the fan noise. I think he went through a couple of iterations, one that
bent the case outwards from the foam expansion, and the other was touching the foam to "form" it into place.
Touching it collasped the bubbles, and made it hard as a rock, requiring something just short of a jackhammer to
remove (since no bubbles, no voids, great sound transmission).

The moral of the story is to use the appropriate material for the requirements of the application.

[SlowBoat407]

Heck, wasn't there some incident recently where some high-dollar program used some cheap OTS item and it turned out to work better than the expensive stuff they had had custom-made for the program? Maybe they can use that spray-on foam caulk to insulate the tank. You know, the stuff you use to fill spaces in walls and make "custom" shipping padding?

This stuff never comes off.