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FinnTroll

02/03/03 9:50 AM

#71274 RE: Zeev Hed #71271

RRI coming alive nicely.

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dave_s

02/03/03 10:38 AM

#71306 RE: Zeev Hed #71271

One of the big risks with a tile loss is the potential aerodynamic impingement and lift of downstream tiles. Thus the tiles can start to come off like a zipper.

Also, the separation induced free jet of the hypersonic boundary layer can strart to melt the metal structure under the tiles. The sequence of events possible suggests a melting induced hull rupture during the critical portion of re-entry.