From: Rodneykelp605@hotmail.com   
      
   Maybe if they squirted halon between the tiles it would eliminate the O2 and   
   extinquish the friction fire.   
      
   "Andrew Nowicki"  wrote in message   
   news:41D4107D.4CF53E44@medianet.pl...   
   > Tommy wrote:   
   >   
   >> a better question is why didn't they make the shuttle out of titanium   
   >> rather than aluminium.   
   >   
   > Paul Hovnanian P.E. wrote:   
   >   
   >> Because the ceramic tiles also provide excellent insulation to protect   
   >> the interior systems and structures of the shuttle. While titanium might   
   >> withstand the temperatures of reentry, it would still conduct a   
   >> significant amount of heat. Some sort of insulation layer would still be   
   >> required.   
   >   
   > The ceramic tiles are very lightweight and very efficient   
   > insulators, but they are extremely brittle. I believe   
   > that the best solution is regenerative cooling (plumbing   
   > circulating cold water) in the leading edges of the shuttle.   
   > There are probably structural pipes in the leading edges   
   > already, so using the existing pipes would not add much   
   > weight. The regenerative cooling would be a backup system --   
   > when a spot in the leading edge becomes too hot, a safety   
   > valve melts down and water begins to circulate to cool down   
   > the hot spot.   
      
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