If you could rap the fuel tank in one giant plastic bag, heat it so it would shrink around the tank it would prevent foam from strikeing the shuttle, why wont this work or why will it!
2007-07-09 11:54:26 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
NASA is working on a gigantic shrink wrap machine. I believe that Haliburton is going to produce the massive sheets of plastic needed.
How this will affect aerodynamics has yet to be seen.................
2007-07-09 12:02:42 · answer #1 · answered by Thom Thumb 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would have to be a very special plastic to withstand the very low temperatures of the fuel, the very high temperatures of the eflux at take off, and still be able to shrink.
And, to shrink wrap something, the air has to be evacuated from it, to maintain such a vacuum over such a massive area would be a total nightmare. And, once held in the vacuum, the external pressure increases several atmospheres, the skin of the tank is very thin....don't think it could withstand it.
If there was such a simple way, NASA would have done it.
2007-07-09 19:06:26 · answer #2 · answered by Paul H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Partway into its trip, the shuttle is flying at several times the speed of sound. The aerodynamic pressure at these speeds is rather extreme. Something a much stronger than Reynolds Wrap (fluid dynamics pun there) would have to be used.
2007-07-09 19:52:04 · answer #3 · answered by lithiumdeuteride 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the shuttle comes in at high speed though the atmosphere it turns red hot. Shrink wrap would quickly go up in flames.
Try shrink wrap and a match in your kitchen and the flaw in the idea will be obvious very quickly.
2007-07-09 20:08:07 · answer #4 · answered by Rich Z 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋