From: "Douglas Kerns" <RES0B40W@verizon.net>
Newsgroups: sci.physics.plasma
References: <b1qv9o$1e5$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu> <b230oh$bhnl$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu>
Subject: Re: Shuttle re-entry and plasma behaviour - solutions



"Mike Rosing" <rosing@neurophys.wisc.edu> wrote in message
news:b230oh$bhnl$1@saturn.cs.uml.edu...
>
>snipped most of the previous stuff<
>
> 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
> SHARC debug tools
>
>
I like that idea. How about a chemical reactive barrier (a *flame*)
deliberately
induced by a set of little fuel jets? I've heard of attempts to control
boundary-layer
flows over wings by blasting little jets of pressurized gas out of
perforations on the wing.
I wonder if something similar, but more energetic, could be devised using a
fueled flame sheath?

Just a thought from someone completely outside the field. I play with
solid-state stuff,
mostly silicon.

- DAK