From: tomswift@cruzio.com   
      
   In general water landings are a maintenance nightmare.  Its OK for a one   
   shot vehicle like Apollo, but guaranteeing that no salt water has leaked   
   into the mechanical and electrical systems is difficult.  Corrosion is   
   enough of a problem on land based vehicles.   
      
   Mike Swift   
      
   In article ,   
    Ian Stirling  wrote:   
      
   > junk@electrosphere.org wrote:   
   > > Can someone think off the top of their head of suitable materials for   
   > > use as reentry shielding/ external shell material that are compatible   
   > > with either a fresh water or salt water environment after reentry?   
   > >   
   >   
   > Niobium/Californium.   
   >   
   > Very inert, essentially totally to sea and salt water.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)