XPost: sci.space.shuttle   
   From: jeff.findley@ugs.nojunk.com   
      
    wrote in message   
   news:1111464283.305939.272440@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com...   
   > The Space Shuttle heat shield has changed over time.  Basically they   
   > have replaced tiles with things requiring less maintence on the less   
   > critical (cooler) areas.  However, the hottest areas remain tiles.   
   >   
   > Suppose someone were to make a shuttle-like craft today.  What would   
   > they use for a heat shield on the hottest areas.  Would they use more   
   > reinforced carbon-carbon?  Are there better things than the current   
   > tile system?   
      
   You can start by not having such a dense vehicle like the shuttle.  Part of   
   the reason that the re-entry heating is so bad is because of this issue.   
   This is directly traceable back to the "orbiter plus drop tank" design.  If   
   you merge these into a single vehicle, then you've got a design that's   
   mostly empty tankage upon re-entry.   
      
   Jeff   
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