From: Mike Rosing <rosing@neurophys.wisc.edu>
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
Subject: Re: Shuttle re-entry and plasma behaviour - solutions
Organization: University of Wisconsin, Madison
References: <b1qv9o$1e5$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu>


Esteban wrote:
> NASA engineers discounted damage to Shuttle tiles, the general feeling being
> that the slight damage that could be caused by a hard piece of foam
> insulation that hit the spacecraft's left wing 80 seconds after launch,
> would not effect the integrity of the Shuttles insulating tiles.
> However, I strongly suspect that the engineers assume that the plasma sheath
> that flows over the Shuttle's damaged area during re-entry is a continual
> flow.
> I suggest this is not so. Consider the following diagram:
> http://www.goodfelloweb.com/nature/columbia/

It's a reasonable assumption given that the ionization source is the
mechanical shock.

> Here is proposed solution to observing the integrity of the returning
> Shuttles:
> Since the dawn of flight, responsible pilots have always walked around their
> aircraft to determine its integrity. Obviously, this is inconvenient in
> space, even in a spacesuit, the preparation for such walks are
> time-consuming and costly.
> That is why I suggest that NASA place a Return Check-out Unit (RCU) on board
> the Shuttles:
> (Same page):
> http://www.goodfelloweb.com/nature/columbia/
>
> Feedback welcome.

Suppose it looked fine? What if there's a bug in the landing gear
code that popped the wheel's seal during re-entry? Looking at tiles
won't fix that kind of problem.

We need to create a "force field" that will use the plasma to insulate
the ship for the full re-entry heating phase. Make it able to fly like
a real airplane in the air rather than the supersonic rock it is. Then
you won't have to check the skin for re-entry, just your power plant!

Patience, persistence, truth,
Dr. mike

--
Mike Rosing
www.beastrider.com BeastRider, LLC
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