Re: Shuttle ET foam shedding fix?

Pat Flannery <flanner@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
> paisley2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
>
>>I'm aware of that, but i'm wondering if the paint has some effect by
>>shielding the foam from the atmosphere? Or is that not the problem
<snip>
> Maybe the paint wasn't a bad idea- if you could make the foam's surface
> completely airtight, there would be less opportunity for air to get
> under it and liquefy in the first place, and the rain problem would be
> removed.

Sounds unlikely.
If you did that, you get what's essentially a moderately hard vacuum
inside the foam.
If it will withstand this force that wants to crush it, the smallest
pinhole will now suck in air, and maybe even create spots that are
more air-logged than normal.

Take off all the foam, cover with a polymer shield, and flow dry helium or
neon through it before liftoff.
neon
.

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