Humidity is suspect
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Re “NASA Is Still Puzzled by
Discovery’s Foam Loss,” Nov. 23
The humid Florida weather is a suspect. Moisture penetrates under the foam, into cracks and onto the surface. Then super-cooled oxygen fills the tanks under the foam, freezing the moisture, expanding it as ice and adding weight and pressure to loosen the foam. Rain delays are common, so more ice builds on the foam and in cracks.
The shuttle launches need to be moved to California’s high desert, where weather conditions are so much better.
WARREN CHASE
Topanga
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