Posted on by mwhybark

Wing Leading-Edge Damage "pre-existing" Re-entry

New Analysis Shifts Theory on Shuttle Breakup [NYT]

The Times reports that the leading-edge flaw thesis just rose to leading theory, based on data recorder analysis:

Admiral Gehman also said today that the new data hinted that the shuttle already had severe damage when it began its re-entry, and not a minor flaw that was made worse by re-entry. Engineers had theorized that minor damage to the thin layer of protective silicon carbide on the panels could have allowed hot oxygen to begin eating away at the leading edge, but Admiral Gehman’s comments suggest that this is unlikely.

Damage before re-entry is likely, he said, because the data show extreme heating taking place early, while the force of air passing over the wing was still quite weak. Admiral Gehman spoke in a conference call with reporters this afternoon.

The damage referred to here as “severe” is also described as extant prior to re-entry. Does this implicate the mysterious shed matter, then? The article also notes that the foam debris shower could still be the cause of the damage.

Posted on by mwhybark

You've got Blimp!

lta-mail is an informational page on Hewlett-Packard’s website exploring a new intraoffice mail delivery system initaitive intended to demonstrate the many efficient ways that Compaq and HP are merging corporate cultures and adding value for shareholders the world over.

[A big TYVM to hot tipper Eric! Your prize is already lost in the mail!]

(And in contrast to the snarky tone above, I found this fascinating, and you really should read Josh’s explanation of how it works… hint: it’s computer guided, rather than hand-guided.)

Posted on by mwhybark

Down in the U-17

Jim and Marianne’s Jukebox is a pretty good sized collection of mp3-format recordings of old 78’s, including the catchy Great War ditties, Down in the U-17, I’ve Got My Captain Working for me Now, and Wilhelm the Grocer. I formerly had this collection stored locally, but it was lost in the great hard-drive corruption disaster of two-thousand-ought-three ([homer] stupid upgrades [/homer]). I would play them whilst engaged in aerial combat in the rickety WW1 combat flight sim Dawn of Aces.

Some time ago, I recall seeing a pointer on MeFi, probably from the remarkable music historian y2karl, to another hobbyist’s archive of material, but alas, I cain’t find it.

While looking for it I did find David Lynch’s “Old-Time Music Home Page,” coming to you straight outta Asheville, NC. I would commend your attn. to the links section, which included a pointer to Norm’s 78 Record Room, now apparently defunct – or maybe just spotty – it looks like a transient URL. I believe Norm’s was one of the archives I was looking for.

honkingduck.com offers 701 78’s in RA format (pfoo, but I understand).

Ah well – while I have a personal fondness for the mp3 transfers created and curated by hobbyists, academic folkorists have done a bang up job on the material, such as the music collections seen at the Appalachian Music Archives, the Smithsonian’s American Memory (which I’m sure you are all familiar with by now).