[snopercod]

No, the tires are inflated with 235# - 300# (can't remember the exact pressure) of dry nitrogen before they are installed on the orbiter. They are inflated in the "tire lab" and then baked and frozen in environmental chambers to make sure they don't leak at extreme temperatures. Once installed for flight, they are never touched again.

I posted a description of the gear operation earler in this thread, but basically it's hydrauliclly-operated, with pyro backup.

[bvw]

I have a question about eddy currents. A plasma is more than a hot gas -- it's a electical fluid. Two little eddies next to another, for example, can act like a restriction point, redircting, concentrating flow. It may be that a set of little dings in the tile could act to create a sort of welder's flame of directed hot concentrated plasma. Especially in an area of curvature, inflection -- like the glove area. Have such effects been studied in simulation or in experiment?

[NormsRevenge]

Thanks for the info. I haven't made it all the way thru the thread yet. I'll keep my eyes open for the gear operation info.

[XBob]

1748 - "They are inflated in the "tire lab" and then baked and frozen in environmental chambers to make sure they don't leak at extreme temperatures. Once installed for flight, they are never touched again. "

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good find.

Now, (I think I posted it on here, but am not sure) I found a commentary by NASA, somewhere along the line, that they modified the standard re-entry for this flight to 'warm' the tires, because the bird spent 16 days upside down, with the wheel wells facing 'cold' space.

In addition, the mission profile scheduled, indicated that there would be 2 re-entry turns, yet the published actual time lines keep talking about 4 turns.