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Joyce,
You are right, it is silica. But then I wasn't really "listening" and it sounded like silicone. But thanks for more information that I ever wanted about the space shuttle. ;>) And while I guess it sounded like it, I didn't mean that the entire shuttle was made from byrillium...I will be sure to tell my partner about all this interesting info. Thanks
Debra

> > shuttle is made from byrillium.

> I think he probably said silica. That's what the heat tiles are made of.
> They're spun glass basically. (90% of the tile is air!) (The adhesive used
> is maked of silicone.) (One site says the heat dissapates from them so
> quickly that they can be touched *seconds* after being removed from a 2300
> degree oven.)
>
> The shell of the shuttle is made of aluminum and then covered with tiles and
> other insulation that keep it from getting above 350 degrees.
>
> There is a more flexible blanket that's put over the top side of the shuttle
> which is also made of silica by a different process that only needs to take
> heat up to 700 degrees.
>
> The tiles on the nose and wing tips are "Reinforced Carbon-Carbon." (One of
> the substances used in it is rayon cloth! There's more about the process at
> http://www.eng.iastate.edu/explorer/topics/spacecoat/RCC.htm And down that
> the bottom of that page are links to the other insulation substances on the
> shuttle.)
>
> I found out beryllium is very light and used to make alloys that are both
> light and strong so that makes it attractive for the space shuttle. Some
> sites did mention beryllium is used in the shuttle, but when they got more
> specific, the only parts mentioned as being made of it are: windshield
> frame, brake discs, support beams, and other structural components of the
> space shuttle.
>
> Yes, the internet is amazing! :-) It would have take
> *hours* to find out
> just a portion of that stuff even 10 years ago.
>
> Joyce