[net.columbia] Heat shielding on Discovery

weaver@silver.DEC (Dave Weaver, DTN 231-7141) (06/16/84)

Can someone please elaborate on the new heat shielding being used on
Discovery?  It is my understanding that tiles have been scrubbed for
sheets of material.  Also, are there any other major differences in
Discovery from Columbia and Challenger?

                                            -Dave

alb@alice.UUCP (Adam L. Buchsbaum) (06/20/84)

The sheets you refer to are blankets made of the same material
as the tiles.  The tiles are still used on the bottom side of
the shuttle, but I believe on the Discovery, the entire top
has been redone in blankets.  The Challenger had a few blankets,
whereas the Columbia had none.