The other reason for starship hull streaks would be minute particles of
dust wearing down the plate... assuming no force fields?

Ken wrote:
> 
> Ben Birdsey wrote:
> >
> >         You know, I can really appreciate this kind of "deck plating".  I think
it's
> > the streaking and rust that makes it look so GOOD.  But then I ask myself "how
> > would a ship get that rusty in space, and why would it streak?"
> 
>   Well speaking of a purely hypothetical situation it might be possible that
> the fuel used in the ship is one of the severe oxidizers like most of the
> fuels used in the US space program. Additionally it is common, at least with
> current technologies, for fuel systems to leak until a certain quantity of
> fuel is loaded thus forcing the seals to seat which halts further leakage.
> Until this happens the severe oxidizing agents are exersizing their unique
> ability to create surface oxidation reduction reactions on the exposed metals
> of the space vehicle accelerating the decay and shortening the life span of
> of it's outer metallic surface.
>   A severe oxidizing agent needs no atmosphere to create a reaction so this
> explains the oxidizing even in a vacuum. The streaking is from where the
> fuel is accelerated along the surface of the ship as it is docked to a
> revolving space port and eventually boils off into space. But before this
> happens it has already had time to inflict it's share of damage.
>   This is all of course conjecture on my part and is not based on any first
> hand observations. As soon as I do get the opportunity to make observations
> of this type I will forward them to you in a timely manner with any comments
> I think may offer you greater insight into this seemingly unsolvable mystery.
> 
> --
> Ken Tyler
> 
> mailto://tylereng@pacbell.net

-- 
The individual is more important then the state!

Politicians are lying, cheating, thieving, underhanded, corrupt,
unethical, unprincipled, degraded, venal, money-grabbing,
self-serving filth that should be killed on sight
(in the messiest, most painful way possible)!

Post a reply to this message