The Professor of our Material Science engineering course decided to spend half the class discussing the space shuttle and its temperature control system (forgot the exact acroynm). He knew some of the people that they interviewed in the news. He said he'd give us more technical public info as he gets it from his friends who are still involved in the space program.
Anyway he was talking about the ceramics involved, what kind of properties the material needs, etc.. The main key point was that it needed a material that could withstand dynamic temp gradients ranging from 200C to 1260C. And since there was nothing that could do that (and more) they used different types of ceramics at different locations.
Anyway, the interesting part was when he said he actually had a part in designing something on the CanadaARM. I asked him later on what it was, and he designed/selected the oil that is used to lubricate the gearboxes in the joints of the ARM. It's pretty interesting stuff actually. Its nothing like synthetic oil or dino oil used in cars (well obviously not, but I thought some of the properties would be similar).
Apparently synthetic oil cannot be used in the Arm because of atomic oxygen (yeah..not as a gas, but as an atom) that floats around in space. He didn't go into too much detail since I wouldn't understand it, but a special oil was needed so it wouldn't flow everywhere and also so it can withstand a wide range of temperatures (like when the ARM moves, it might get extreme heat or cold depending on the moon's position with relation to the ARM).
It is pretty interesting. He said that he used a simulation of the ARM at Kennedy Space center (apparently back in the day, the public was allowed to use the simulation too) and it was QUITE difficult to control. Oh, and I think he did all this when he worked for JPL.
Some professors are quite interesting, especially when they are open to talk about their experiences. They make the course that much more interesting.
Anyway, I hope some people learnt something from this little splurge.
Anyway he was talking about the ceramics involved, what kind of properties the material needs, etc.. The main key point was that it needed a material that could withstand dynamic temp gradients ranging from 200C to 1260C. And since there was nothing that could do that (and more) they used different types of ceramics at different locations.
Anyway, the interesting part was when he said he actually had a part in designing something on the CanadaARM. I asked him later on what it was, and he designed/selected the oil that is used to lubricate the gearboxes in the joints of the ARM. It's pretty interesting stuff actually. Its nothing like synthetic oil or dino oil used in cars (well obviously not, but I thought some of the properties would be similar).
Apparently synthetic oil cannot be used in the Arm because of atomic oxygen (yeah..not as a gas, but as an atom) that floats around in space. He didn't go into too much detail since I wouldn't understand it, but a special oil was needed so it wouldn't flow everywhere and also so it can withstand a wide range of temperatures (like when the ARM moves, it might get extreme heat or cold depending on the moon's position with relation to the ARM).
It is pretty interesting. He said that he used a simulation of the ARM at Kennedy Space center (apparently back in the day, the public was allowed to use the simulation too) and it was QUITE difficult to control. Oh, and I think he did all this when he worked for JPL.
Some professors are quite interesting, especially when they are open to talk about their experiences. They make the course that much more interesting.
Anyway, I hope some people learnt something from this little splurge.
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