Model Forum / General / Models / January 2006

According to "Shuttle Chalenger" 1987 by David Shayler Prentice
Hall/ARCO/Salamander ISBN 0 13 1251473

Nose cap and wing leading edges covered with Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC).

The remaining underside, upper surface of nose slightly less than
halfway to flight deck windows and sides to forward edge of crew door
covered with black High tempreture Reuseable Surface Insulation (HRSI
tiles). A narrow band of HRSI arround flight deck windows. Also HRSI on
leading edge of fin. There are also bands of HRSI on the upper fuslage
between the OMS pods and the fin.

Upper surface of wings adjacent to RCC, upper surface of wing outboard
of control surfaces, sides of fuslage between HRSI area and wing leading
edge and upper surface of fuslage to an area surrounding upper
"skylight" windows covered by Low tempreture Reuseable Surface
Insulation (LRSI tiles). LRSI tiles also used on leading surfaces of
Obital Manuvering System (OMS) pods, sides of  vertical fin and
rudder/airbrake. A triangular band of LRSI extends along sides of
fuselage and payload bay doors to approximately 4/5 of payload door
length, but there is a triangular band of FRSI (see description below)
between this band of LRSI and the upper surface of the wing.

I am not quite clear on the book's description of Advanced Flexible
Reuseable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) areas on the OMS pods. Apparently
this material is used in place of OR in conjunction with the LRSI. This
material is described as not used on Columbia, Discovery or Atlantis.
The book doesn't mention Endeavour. I can't see the difference between
the materials in the photos from other LRSI areas.

Metal panels along leading edges of rudder/airbrake and upper leading
edge of wing control surfaces. Metal panel on side of fuselage under
trailing edge of OMS pod (Umbilical attachment area)

Remainder of upper fuselage surface, central portions of upper wing
surface and bulk of OMS pods covered with Felt Reuseable surface
Insulation (FRSI coated Nomex). The FRSI areas on the fuselage sides
apparently enjoy some heating protection from the extended leading edge
of the wings. The FSRI areas on the fuslage side are clearly visable in
a photograph that also shows the "Challenger" designation on the
fuselage and starboard wing. The area immediately areound the upper
cabin "skylights" looks like FRSI too. The length of the HRSI tiles on
top of the nose looks shorter in the photgraph than the drawing that
labels the Thermal Protection System (TPS) areas. There are two clusters
of RCS thrusters, the tiles around the upper cluster are white, but
there's a narrow band of black between the cluster and the cockpit windows.

As Enterprise was not intended for orbital operation and the associated
rentry, there may bave been less heat tollerent materials used on some
of her surfaces.

I am not presently able to locate another publication I have that MAY
have indicated some areas of Columbia that were covered with LRSI that
were covered with FRSI or AFRSI on the four newer orbiters. Remember
that Columbia not only carried insrumentation that was installed for the
early test flights, her greater weight made lower orbital altitudes or
lighter payloads necessary on her flights.

I have some pics of Challenger that show the diff covers.  I don't know the
tech end of it but you can see where the white tiles are and where the
blankets are.

Let me know if you want me to email them to you.

Zack
zdillion3@comcast.net