[computermechanic]

I was asking about the Main Landing Gear Door Thermal Barrier because I found this interesting looking sample close to the flight path of STS-107 over California. It's ceramic with a thin glassy black coating like HRSI, but it doesn't look like it's from the average square TUFI HRSI LI900 & LI2200 (9 & 22 lbs per cu-ft) and it's heavier than water (62 lbs/cu-ft).

Are there any odd closeout areas on the shuttle (such as the MLG Door Thermal Barrier) that use black HRSI that could become this heavy?

And I do know about the HAZMAT warnings, but this has been outside washed in the rain for over a year now and probably is just a piece of somebody's coffee mug... what do you think?

[XBob]

you have given no size reference, so I really can't know. However, I know of no insulating material on the orbiter which would be the shape pictured, with the weight described, and the size of a coffee mug or smaller.

The colors are correct, but the weight is wrong, even for configurations around the MLG.

If it is like a coffee mug, just think, try holding a ceramic coffee mug - it is not a good heat insulator, rather it transmits heat easily. Otherwise, you would not need the handle.

[XBob]

PS - The HAZMAT warnings warnings were mostly 99.99% bunk, except for the OMS-RCS oxidizer tanks.

[snopercod]

You will know if it's real by it's weight. If it weighs almost nothing, then it could be real...in which case you should contact NASA.