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Off Topic => General Discussion => Topic started by: Allan F on February 13, 2016, 06:06:54 PM

Title: Space Shuttle ET foam and CFCs
Post by: Allan F on February 13, 2016, 06:06:54 PM

I'm currently reading the Columbia accident reports, and came across a point that I found curious. The agents used to blow up the foam used for ET insulation are several kinds of CFCs, which I find quite heavy. Wasn't it possible to use for example nitrogen to do that, and thereby save several hundred kilos of weight?

ETA: As I understand it, the cells of the foam were filled with CFC.

Title: Re: Space Shuttle ET foam and CFCs
Post by: ka9q on February 13, 2016, 08:42:54 PM

I don't know that the CFCs stay within the foam; I would have thought they'd eventually diffuse out. Since it rapidly decompresses on ascent, trapped gas could cause the foam to explode.

Title: Re: Space Shuttle ET foam and CFCs
Post by: Allan F on February 13, 2016, 09:18:00 PM

It was a closed-cell foam, probably watertight. Don't know if that measn CFC-tight too.