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Foam Shot Causes Damage to Shuttle Mockup

Posted by michael on from the deploy-foam-cannons-for-homeland-security dept.

DoraLives writes "The New York Times is running a story describing the effects caused by a piece of foam fired at a fiberglass mock up of the Space Shuttle's wing. Although fiberglass is stronger than the RCC material on Columbia's wing, "The impact produced a 22-inch-long gap." Not good."

4 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. Related: Why a Space Plane? by StormForge · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Why did NASA choose the shuttle design anyway? They took a perfectly good spaceship and added wings, control surfaces, tail, landing gear, etc... just so it could fly home like a plane. Lot's of heavy stuff just to switch from an inherently-safe re-entry method (ballistic with heat shield&chute) to a much more risky one (landing like a plane). I don't see how the "plane" part of the design is worth it... Just cuz it's sexy?

    1. Re:Related: Why a Space Plane? by rusty0101 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Enterprise is sitting at the Smithsonian.

      It is a prototype however, a test bed for the technology that went into the "production" shuttles, and as far as I know not capable of being re-fitted for space. So you are correct in that sense.

      Then again, I could be wrong. Perhaps the Smithsonian will donate it back to NASA to be used. I just doubt that will happen.

      -Rusty

      --
      You never know...
  2. Shuttle Astronauts killed by the EPA by Picass0 · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Dryden Flight Research Center:

    DRYDEN F-15B SUPPORTS SHUTTLE EXTERNAL TANK INSULATION TESTS
    http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewsReleases/199 9/99-01.html
    Published in 1999

    fourth paragraph:

    "The experiment was part of an effort to determine why small particles of spray-on foam insulation flaked off of the inter-tank section of the external fuel tank on Space Shuttle mission STS-87 as the Shuttle ascended. The new lightweight insulation material was developed to comply with an EPA mandate to reduce ozone-depleting chemicals released into the atmosphere. Although such flaking or erosion of the insulation off the external tank posed no safety hazard to the Shuttle or its crew, engineers wanted to determine its cause to prevent future maintenance and operational problems. The flights aboard Dryden's F-15B were just one of many tests to which the new insulation material is being subjected. "

    The EPA required Nasa to continue using a foam that was not as safe as the older tank foam. The EPA has a direct responsiblity for this disaster.
  3. the design of the external tank by Maimun · · Score: 2, Interesting
    There has to be a good reason for this design choice, but I cannot see it. Why not have the foam sandwiched between two coaxial metal cylinders, rather than being sprayed onto one? Then the problem with the falling pieces would vanish.

    What about other rockets that use cryo-fuel? Do they have thermo insulator as an outer layer? I can't be positive, I've never touched a rocket, but they seem to have metal skins...