Re: Should We Reconsider Painting the ET?

"Mike Dennis" <mapson@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:5FLGe.42269$zY4.41279@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:

> From looking back over the archives of this group, it seems this idea
> has never been seriously discussed. It quickly goes off on unrelated
> tangents.

Probably because you weren't reading the *relevant* responses: 1) The two
flights with painted tanks (STS-1 and 2) still had hundreds of debris
strikes on the orbiter, and 2) Paint might have the tensile strength to
mitigate "popcorning" of small pieces of foam, but the areas of concern are
the bipod and PAL ramps, where large chunks of foam are coming loose. Paint
won't help there.

> But what if we painted the ET with a latex-like paint? It's fairly
> elastic and might provide just enough surface tension to retain the
> foam. It also would protect the foam from aging and hardening during
> extended launch delays, a clearly documented problem.
>
> I realized we're talking about an extra 800-1200lbs and
> cost/turn-around increase, but that seems like a fair tradeoff for a
> significant safety margin increase.
>
> Thoughts?

What's your rationale for saying it's a "significant" safety margin
increase?


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Should We Reconsider Painting the ET?
    ... the results are of previous ideas--like painting the tanks. ... STS1 & 2 did not use latex paint. ... A significant safety margin increase would be the total elimination of two ... foam aging, and foam separation. ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)
  • Re: Advice on painting a set?
    ... was thinking about using heavy kraft paper to create a wall in its place. ... Prime that foam with a bucket of Kilz brand latex-based (not oil ... that point for the final finish, but house paint will also work. ... selection of paints and glazes for doing faux finishes, ...
    (rec.video.production)
  • Re: Shuttle grounded again
    ... for all I care. ... The mere fact that ... The paint gave no additional structural integrity to the foam. ...
    (rec.models.rockets)
  • Re: Space shuttle problems
    ... is partly why they dont even paint the fuel tanks, it added lots of weight. ... The other part had something about the paint was actually causing the foam ... that is part of the reason many US stock car auto racing ...
    (rec.motorcycles.dirt)
  • Re: Scratch built ME109 --- finishing detail
    ... foam and brown paper. ... Make a frame from wood or wire or alloy tube, glaze it and tape over the joins and paint the tape for the frames. ... Etches the foam badly :-) ... Theres a full decal set for a 109 posted in the decals thread in the scale forum on rcgroups. ...
    (rec.models.rc.air)