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Astronauts To Repair Shuttle Tiles With Foam Brush

Posted by michael on from the crazy-glue dept.

lhouk281 writes "Repairing the space shuttle's heat shield on the fly might be easier than originally thought, thanks to a basic, inexpensive item in any painter's tool box -- the foam brush. The brush, which costs less than $1 at most hardware stores, was described by NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe as the perfect instrument for applying two compounds that together form a Super Glue-like substance to patch potential holes in the shuttle's heat-resistant tiles."

4 of 66 comments (clear)

  1. Why not Bail out before/during re-entry? by jameskojiro · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I know ther is a lot of heat and what not during re-entry but give the naut's some one time use, high impact ceramic and kevlar suits. Then bail out before re-entry and use something akin to a fire extinguisher for a retro rocket and do an orbital skydive. They have jumped from the edge of space before using very high altitiude ballons (USAF project manhigh). They just need a suit that can stand the heat and viola! Orbital skydiving done easy!

    --
    Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
    1. Re:Why not Bail out before/during re-entry? by ColaMan · · Score: 2, Interesting

      If you built something that the human could survive inside to withstand the stresses, congratulations, you've just rebuilt the shuttle.

      Hardly.

      How about a soyuz return capsule.
      Or even a 60's era MOOSE.

      It's only a metric ton of heat when you've got 50 tons of orbiter smacking into the atmosphere. There's a lot less excess energy to bleed off when it's 1 man+250kg. Still, *I* wouldn't want to try personal orbital re-entry until every other option was exhausted.

      --

      You are in a twisty maze of processor lines, all alike.
      There is a lot of hype here.
  2. Re:two compounds = Super-Glue like? by TwP · · Score: 2, Interesting

    So they'll also have to bring with them a $1 water mister if they're going to use household Super Glue

    And on the sunny side of the Space Shuttle the water will boil away before it hits the glue. And on the dark side of the Space Shuttle the water will freeze before it hits the glue.

    The compound is probably akin to a two part epoxy -- epoxy (the glue) and resin (the hardener). Another option would be a UV curing glue. (1) Apply on the dark side of the Shuttle, (2) rotate Shuttle into sunlight, (3) watch glue cure, (4) profit!!!

  3. Carbon fibre duct tape? by bigsteve@dstc · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I know you intended that to be a joke, but it may be the root of the solution. Suppose NASA could develop semi-flexible patch material consisting of a carbon fibre composite with an adhesive backing. The astronauts would apply patches of this material, cut to shape with hand shears. By applying a number of layers, they would build up sufficient thickness of material to withstand the heat of reentry.

    I don't know how flexible a thin sheet of carbon fibre composite would be. But, if necessary, the patches could be preshaped with roughly the U profile needed to go around the leading edge.