On Fri, 29 Jul 2005 18:47:22 GMT, Ignoramus27279
wrote:

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.

Hey, Ignorant. The panty hose goes over the foam.