Pierce Nichols wrote:
I think that the water-transpiration might be slightly more mass efficient, because water has a far better heat capaity per kilo then any ablator material. However, the ablator also, as Henry pointed out, doubles as insulation, so transpiration loses some there. Water transpiration also has the support gear and tankage, which cuts into its mass advantage. [...]
Longer term, water transpiration offers the possibility of using extraterrestrial water as the coolant, particularly if the vehicle is returned from beyond low orbit.
Paul _______________________________________________ ERPS-list mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.erps.org/mailman/listinfo/erps-list
