XPost: sci.space.shuttle   
   From: dietz@dls.net   
      
   Thomas Womack wrote:   
      
   > There have, I believe, been vehicles built that needed heat-shields   
   > when launching.  But they were missile interceptors (I think _Nike_   
   > was one), for which it was absolutely critical to get up to the   
   > position of the incoming missile as fast as possible; you did a very   
   > fierce burn while right down at the bottom of the atmosphere.   
      
   Another example was Sprint, a two-staged cone-shaped interceptor   
   with absolutely hellacious acceleration (100 g, reaching Mach 10   
   in five seconds).  The cone was glowing white hot by the time of   
   burnout.   
      
   	Paul   
      
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