From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <20040225213000.20206.00000474@mb-m27.aol.com>,   
   Allen Meece  wrote:   
   >  I read that the ET is broken up by explosive charges so that it burns better   
   >during reentry.   
      
   No, it's not.  Even the destruct charges that used to be there (fired by   
   command only) are no longer present.   
      
   >   Makes you wonder why nasa didn't go the other way and try to make it burn   
   >less and be recoverable.   
      
   Because it was designed from the start to be expendable.  Recovering it   
   would be difficult, and refurbishing it for re-use would be tricky and   
   expensive.  (Even refurbishing the SRBs probably does not actually save   
   NASA any money.)   
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   since Oct; first surprises seen; papers pending.        | henry@spsystems.net   
      
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