I remember Dan Rather once saying on a news broadcast that each Shuttle
launch releases enough ODM (Ozone depleting material) equal to 50,000
refridgerators loosing their freon (R-12 freon)

"Ulysses" wrote in message
...

"RBM" rbm2(remove wrote in message
...
The truth of the matter is they already had a foam that performed
perfectly
well with no problems, but stopped using it because it wasn't
"environmentally friendly"

And the space shuttle is? I think about all that billowing black smoke
from
liftoff every time I have to go get a smog test.



"Ignoramus27279" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:36:46 GMT, Sherman
wrote:

Isn't is obvious to the most clueless that the tanks to be covered
with a hairnet or pantyhose type covering?

Surely there are dozens of materials that will withstand the heat and
vibration of lift-off NOT reentry.....

I would have done that on day one. The idiots at NASA and spent a
billion dollars and 2 and 1/2 years and they haven't figured it out
yet.....

The requirements for the material probably incude being very light,
and also low thermal conductivity. The purpose of that foam is to keep
liquid hydrogen cool before liftoff. I do not think that the "idiots
at NASA" (your words) would have a very easy time finding an
alternative to some type of foam.

i