Ridgerunner
Vice Admiral
Seems the problem with crap flying off the center tank isn't fixed. Thank the EPA for not allowing the Freon manufactured foam from pre- 97.
Painted. That's right. It's been a while. What I've been thinking lately is, what was on a Saturn V? Didn't seem to be a problem with shit flying off those.
And if weight is a concern (there was something about only a couple of the shuttles were light enough to make it to the space station), how about putting a third solid rocket booster opposite the shuttle? More thrust = more weight in orbit. Maybe it's too simple.
the russians' stuff is ancient, but it works. what's the real gain in not painting the tanks?
I hope the next one is in September. I am sure foam has fallen out many times after 1997. Only reason Columbia got destroyed was perhaps it was an old orbiter that should of been retired. How come we have not developed new orbiters, that use current technology?
The issue with that is that the rocket isn't reusable. Part of the reason that the shuttle exists is that most of it (except the SRBs (solid rocket boosters - the white engines) is reusable. That big liquid engine tank is reused (and why the fuel sensor was so important).
spiritplumber said:the shuttle is a flying disaster anyway.... CSV for people and Energia for heavy lifting, IMHO.
spiritplumber said:the shuttle is a flying disaster anyway.... CSV for people and Energia for heavy lifting, IMHO.
I'm not at all sure what this CSV thing is, but your vaunted Energia rockets haven't flown in 15 years, and they only went up twice, anyway.spiritplumber said:the shuttle is a flying disaster anyway.... CSV for people and Energia for heavy lifting, IMHO.