From: Spudboy100@aol.com
Date: Mon Feb 03 2003 - 23:10:40 MST
Bret Kulakovich said"
<<The belly, nose, and much of the rest of the orbiter remains 
blown-silica glass tile type stuff.
Bret Kulakovich>>
I was chatting on-line with an aerospace engineer, badgering him to come up 
with new materials to help prevent space disasters. (He was yanked from both 
the X-34, and X-38 rescue vehicle, when NASA canceled). I was  prompting him 
for something titanium, or silicon nitride. He opined that such was too 
brittle or susceptible to metalic fatigue. He did, however, suggest the 
element ruthenium, which is also brittle, but might be the right matrix for 
some add-ons. I will have to corner him again.
Mitch
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