[canuck_conservative]

I don't get it.

"... the frozen slushy hydrogen was pumped THROUGH the aircraft, to the leading edges of the wings and nose first, then to less hot areas, then finally to the engines, where it was burned..."

The ship doesn't need to burn fuel on re-entry; the problem is an EXCESS of speed! Fuel is burned only at takeoff, to GET to orbital speed. Thus - what's left for re-entry cooling? Explain, please.

And liquid slush hydroden? Never heard of that.

[LS]

I know you never heard of it. That's the point. With any POWERED vehicle, you must save some fuel. You are still operating in a shuttle mentality that we were trying to escape. Notice a 747 doesn't want to get rid of all fuel before it lands. A lot, yes. But POWERED re-entry is much more desirable than gliding.