Article

2010-12-06 Science & Technology

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Uleatch Dribble8106 2010-12-06 00:00|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 "Significant weathering, or discoloration, can be seen on the spacecraft's upper thermal blanket insulation."

Interesting. A burn from a bad re-entry angle? But it's exactly on the payload bay doors. Some on the nose as well though.

Posted by Skidmark 2010-12-06 04:18|| 2010-12-06 04:18|| Front Page Top

#2 Those suits remind me if some sciFi movie.

Posted by Tyranysaurus Glaitle7046 2010-12-06 07:59|| 2010-12-06 07:59|| Front Page Top

#3 The type of fuel is interesting;"Hydrazine and Nitrogen Tetroxide". I will have to look those up. I love Hydrogen and would be interested in why the change. The other fuel looks hazardous. Skidmark you are correct. It is curious that the cargo bay doors show discoloration over large area.

Posted by Dale 2010-12-06 18:12|| 2010-12-06 18:12|| Front Page Top

#4 Hydrazine and Nitrogen Tetroxide; Most excellent choice in fuels. Spontaneous contact ignition and small amount rather than heavy bulky liquid hydrogen. Toxic however.

Posted by Dale 2010-12-06 18:18|| 2010-12-06 18:18|| Front Page Top

#5 Imagining clamshell doors I would propose a 'snatch'. Doors opened, vessel positioned between an object of interest and the Earth, suddenly illuminated by a ground-based laser the black reentry tiles bear the brunt of the radiation unmarked but the insulation blanket above is singed...

...or blown nose wheel hydraulics in a slapdown landing. What did Pan say he was driving?

Posted by Skidmark 2010-12-06 23:42|| 2010-12-06 23:42|| Front Page Top

23:59 Skidmark
23:58 trailing wife
23:45 Skidmark
23:44 trailing wife
23:42 Skidmark
23:42 Canuckistan sniper
23:36 Redneck Jim
23:35 trailing wife
23:27 trailing wife
23:21 JosephMendiola
23:15 trailing wife
23:13 gorb
23:12 trailing wife
23:10 gorb
23:09 tu3031
23:04 gorb
22:54 gorb
22:54 gorb
22:50 flash91
22:46 SteveS
22:41 Swamp Blondie
22:31 Swamp Blondie
22:23 flash91
22:21 Swamp Blondie