XPost: sci.space.policy   
   From: jfindley@cinci.nospam.rr.com   
      
   In article <9d822e5gdsd1uvsejpo6g1p5qs9r8th7j9@4ax.com>,   
   fjmccall@gmail.com says...   
   >   
   > JF Mezei  wrote on Mon, 24 Dec 2018   
   > 12:38:00 -0500:   
   > > >   
   > >The other argument made was that a shiny reflective surface might   
   > >reflect much of the heat generated by the plasma around the skin instead   
   > >of absorbing it. (but this would assume the ship's exterior is stainless   
   > >steel and I doubt stainless steel has a high enough melting point, or   
   > >does it?)   
   > >   
   >   
   > Depends on which stainless alloy you're talking about and how high a   
   > melting point is 'high enough'.  There are stainless steels that are   
   > good to temperatures of 1400 C (AISI 330).   
      
      
   Elon Musk on Twitter 2:38 p.m. on Dec 22, 2018:   
      
      Yup. Actually, the only significant design element in common   
      with early Atlas is stainless steel & we?re using a different   
      alloy mix. I super ?? 300 Series Stainless!   
      
   Jeff   
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