From: mooregr_deleteth1s@greenms.com   
      
   "Rodney Kelp"  wrote in message   
   news:Rv-dnTFEe9a9-ETcRVn-vg@adelphia.com...   
   > Maybe if they squirted halon between the tiles it would eliminate the O2   
   and   
   > extinquish the friction fire.   
      
   Umm, what 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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