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Space Science

The Huntsville Concrete Rocket 157

Posted by chrisd from the concrete-doesn't-excrete-conceit dept.
eric writes: "Students at the University of Alabama in Huntsville have designed and launched the world's first concrete rocket. Video of the launch can be found on their site" Look to the bottom of the page. What's next? Concrete cell phones? I could use a cell phone that could float.
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The Huntsville Concrete Rocket More

The Huntsville Concrete Rocket

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  • Sorry, I didn't find the rocket. I found a concrete canoe. And a part of the article mentioned that the concrete could be used to make a rocket.. COULD...

    • Try going to the bottom of the page....

    • Re:Concrete Canoe... (Score:3, Informative)

      by larien ( 5608 )
      It's at the bottom of the page; look closer next time.

      • Re:Concrete Canoe... (Score:2, Interesting)

        by ArcSecond ( 534786 )
        Yeah, it's at the bottom of the page... It talks about a small rocket they launched LAST YEAR:

        The vehicle was successfully launched on April 19, 2001. Things went so well that plans have already been made with Alabama A&M University to build and launch a larger prototype that will serve as a sounding rocket to take micro-gravity experiments into space. The project is being supported by a number of Huntsville's high-tech aerospace companies and federal agencies including NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center.

        THAT sounds more like a Slashdot headliner... so where is the article about the BIG rocket? Oh! Let me guess... it hasn't happened yet.

        Ok, so how the hell is a year-old "first" news?

    • Ok, I see it now... rocket launch [uah.edu]
    • They really have a thing about concrete there. I met some cute chick Huntsville U at SGI developers conference a while back. All she wanted to talk about were her concrete canoe activities. Now, I've been to Huntsville and the best entertainment available is to gorp at the folks with lots of first names at establishments like the Chicken Shack
      [ typical converation:
      "hi, I'm billy bob jimmy jack"
      "er, is this a multiple personality thing or y'all just rednecks ?"
      "you got a pretty mouth, boy"]

      There doesn't seem to be a heck of a lot to do in Huntsville, so they make their own entertainment. I guess blasting things off into outer space is a good thing to do on a slow afternoon, but I'm not sure where the concrete fixation comes from.
      • If you had read the article, you'd see that the "concrete fixation" comes from using a very resiliant, very cheap material that could revolutionize the make-up of what we use for objects that are shot into space (i.e. vs. graphite & epoxy)

      • I lived in Madison, AL (just outside Huntsville) for six years, technical writing & training at Intergraph. One of our customers was in town for a week of training and asked what there was to do in town.

        "Have you been to the Space and Rocket Center?"

        "Did that yesterday. What else is there?"

        "Well, um, have you been to the Space and Rocket Center?"

      • So, you were the guy giving the billy bob jimmy jack line?

        I have lived in Huntsville over fifteen years and have never experienced this before. An hour out into the county, perhaps, but not in Huntsville. Huntsville is listed as a "Top 10" place to live if you're a programmer [ddj.com].
        Aside from the plethora of idiots making knee-jerk comments about the place, Huntsville is an awesome place to live.
      • Hey, dang it...I live in Hunstville (and study Physics, Philosophy and History at UAH)...and there is plenty to do, for me at least...a lot of us just like the change the way we look at things here (like being a largely mixed-race community in the midst of the south).

        The concrete team is a very interesting group of people. Now, I am more into the theoritical side of things...and not the engineering...but the fact that they are using something that most people don't think twice about and putting it uses that catches people off guard...I say good job to them.
    • From the sig:
      Error 1701-D. file not found.

      Obviously you forgot to purchase the Enterprise version.

  • Force fed adds. (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I haven't noticed anyone from Slashdot coming to my dwelling and putting a gun to my head.

    Getting the fine quality content, like these belated April Fools Day stories is well worth having to close a few pop-ups.

    So grow up, and quite whining and complaining about the things you bring on yourself of your own free will.

    Sheesh.
    • Slashdot doesn't have pop-ups. If you're getting pop-ups while you're visiting slashdot you most likely have another program installed that's sending them up. These typically are pretty insidious programs that actually register information about the sites you're viewing and send the info back to their own servers. You might want to check out what you have installed.

  • For more info about this concrete malarky (Score:3, Informative)

    by potcrackpot ( 245556 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:10AM (#3315131) Homepage
    look no further than here [djc.com].

    Calling it a concrete rocket is a bit misleading however IMHO - if it is like the boat, it's got a very thin layer of concrete ( < half an inch) over the top of a structure made from another material.

    What is more interesting is the concrete - waterproof, high tensile strength, etc. etc.

    • Concrete is an amazing material. You can make just about anything out of it.

    • Calling it a concrete rocket is a bit misleading however IMHO - if it is like the boat, it's got a very thin layer of concrete ( < half an inch) over the top of a structure made from another material.

      And IMHO, you should read more about the current state of concrete boat races. The boat raced in 2001 is a concrete hull. No support structures, just the concrete. Granted, the fill components are anything but mundane, being far more advanced than basic crushed stone. From the website:

      UAH's flexible concrete is the end product of more than 200 different combinations that were mixed and tested. It is made of Portland cement, glass microbeads (microscopic hollow spheres), latex, acrylic fortifier and water. Mix in the right proportions, then dry for 12 hours. The end product is concrete so light that a solid block will float in water, and so flexible it can bend without breaking.

      The canoe itself flexes and is tuned to the harmonic wavelength it travels at in the races. I suggest reading their old press release [uah.edu] from the 2001 races.

    • The rocket was made with a couple of sheets of carbon fiber mesh. Then concrete is put on to hold the shape. A thin layer of epoxy is on the outside for smoothness. It is quite strong and very light.
      • check us out! http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/

        Much as I'd like to (and I would - I've flown big rockets for many years) I can't - you have one of those bozo web pages that can only be accessed with explorer - which doesn't run on any of my computers - doing web pages in visual basic has never been portable and probably never will be

  • SO the expression.... (Score:3, Funny)

    by NeoTron ( 6020 ) <kevin.scarygliders@net> on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:12AM (#3315137) Homepage
    "Fly's like a brick" might have to be re-evaluated.

  • In other news... (Score:3, Funny)

    by bryan1945 ( 301828 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:17AM (#3315154) Journal
    A second Washington monument has appeared overnight. The second one is round, but of similar dimensions to the original monument.

    President Bush was quoted as saying "Cool! Bungi jumping!"

    Former President Clinton was quoted as saying "Yep, almost lifesize! Now THAT'S a legacy, baby!"

    More on topic- this impresses me less than the concrete boats the military used in WWI (I think). I can understand blasting concrete around, but my mind just can not wrap itself around a big hunko concrete actually floating. Of course, iron/steel would also be a non-starter if I didn't grow up with it as the standard, probably.

    • Re:In other news... (Score:3, Informative)

      by tjensor ( 571163 )
      Non-metal hulls on ships are not as stupid as they sound. The UK Navy (and I presume others) uses plastic-hulled minesweepers - not as likely to set of mines that sense changes in the earths electromagnetic field and all that.

      Erosion could be a bitch though!
      • I believe the hulls are actually more traditional GRP composites, its just that usually when a boat reaches around 50 foot long you normally build in steel because whilst GRP and similar is great for small light hulls, it gets progressively more difficult to fabricate as the size goes up.

        The UK Navy minesweeper fleet was nick named the Tupperware Fleet - Presumably RubberMaid Fleet elsewhere!

        Ferrocement Hulls (to give them thier proper name) were reasonably common for 'home build'. You form the hull using a matrix of steel rods and then usually 'spray' the concrete into this matrix, effectively giving you a cast reinforced concrete hull. Whilst these are strong, they are bulkier than steel hulls and can shatter/crack in impacts where steel would just bend or split. These sort of hulls can be quite large, and the concrete sets into a single very strong monocoque structure.

        Whilst ferocement hulls do sound wierd, heavier than water steel hulls still work - what is important is that the hull wieghs less than the volume of the water it displaces (Archemedies Principal [everything2.com])

        What is wierd is 'floating concrete' that looks like a fine matrix breeze(UK)/cinder(US) building block, but floats because it is mainly air - freaky when you pick the block up and it weighs so little!!!
    • Its not as daft as it sounds - any non metal hull has the advantage of not producing as much of a disturbance in the earths magnetic field, which can be used to set of mines. Several navies use plastic hulled minesweepers.
    • Because of the need to rush construction, the ready availablitity of concrete (as opposed to scarce metal) and the 'who cares about fuel mileage' attitude, Liberty ships during WWII were sometimes produced in concrete. These were trans-Atlantic freight haulers, deemed perfect for moving armoured vehicles. Of course, if struck by enemy fire, they gave a quick refresher on the phrase 'sinks like a stone'.

    • Re:Concrete Canoes (Score:3, Informative)

      by NVHall ( 154486 )
      The American Society of Civil Engineers holds and annual concrete canoe competition for student chapter/club programs. Check out the site [masterbuilders.com] for more information...
    • A uncle of mine builds luxury yachts in San Diego. I thought he was pulling my leg when he said the hull was made from concrete. He wasn't kidding. Actually they refer to them as ferrocement hulled.
    • If you have a hard time handling concrete boats, just remember that steel and fiberglass are both heavier than water, yet boats made with them can float.

      The newer concrete products are actually pretty cool. Even in residential building, lightweight concrete products are used in things like flooring. You don't want to use 1200lbs of traditional concrete on a 2nd floor bathroom floor for example (ceramic tile needs a solid base) so you use a lightweight concrete that may only weigh 200 lbs. Leightweight concrete is also use to reline old chimneys - they insert tubular balloons in the middle of a chimney, pour in the concrete around, and voilla! Traditional concrete would blow out an old chimney, crush the balloons, etc.

      The additives to concrete / altering proportions make a huge difference in the end product. Concrete used in bridges for example is about 10 times stronger than concrete used in sidewalks. Fiberglass strands added to concrete can prevent cracking. The list is endless.
  • so what happens when it comes crashing back to earth [slashdot.org]?

  • Felony or at least penal code violation (rocket) (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:27AM (#3315182)

    It is a felony in most states to launch a model rocket exceding certain characteristics.

    For example tipping it with a nail, or making it a DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE by merely increasing its girth to over sixty hundredths of an inch, or using its fuel as a type of explosive payload.

    But you cannot tip it with a metal mass.

    These people cleverly used concrete to skirt the state laws on illegal rocketry.

    Thats funny.

    We used to shoot metal tipped rockets into aluminum siding of college busses using c engines in mosquitos at college (actually the NROTC guys did it all the time as a thrill)

    They stopped when springtime brought prospect of open bus windows.

    the rockets stuck into the bus (north campus busses).

    They would have used cement to stay within the law if they knew it could be done.... too bad it would be a small pinch of payload.... no way to get thrust for much concrete.

    • Re:Felony or at least penal code violation (rocket (Score:1, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward
      wow. no creativity at all...

      take a good high flying rocket 2 stage is best.
      remove parachute... insert wadding, cut chute out. fill with thousands of flat tiny pieces of aluminum foil. launch and get in the car and run like hell.

      Wait for news reports of UFO sightings by local airport.

      (Note: launching a chaff rocket like above is dangerous and illegal. do not do this.
      you can kill billions of people and the homeland goard will come and beat you and then imprision you for at least 30 years for being a suspected terrorist.)
    • Did you know that Huntsville, Alabama (where UAH is located) is also the home of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center [nasa.gov]? It seems to me that an interest in rocketry at this university would be a given - either naturally-occurring or sponsored by NASA.
      • NASA is located on Redstone Arsenal and is technically not part of Huntsville, but that would be nitpicking. (Redstone is also home to the US Army's Missile Command, MICOM). One of the early rockets developed at MSFC was the Redstone Rocket, named for the arsenal and developed by Wernher von Braun and his team. A version of the Redstone called the Jupiter C launched the USA's first satellite into orbit, and Mercury Redstones launched Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom into suborbital flights prior to John Glenn's first orbital flight.

        So all this history has me wondering: do the UAH students call it the "Graystone" rocket?

        --Jim
      • That is how the project started actually. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center wrote a proposal to our university to build and launch some very large rockets. The concrete rocket was built as a side project to experiment with using the concrete as a building material. The concrete is actually lighter and stronger than what we have used already.... http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/ [uah.edu]

    • Re:Felony or at least penal code violation (rocket (Score:4, Informative)

      by Spencerian ( 465343 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @09:48AM (#3315872) Homepage Journal
      I'm a model rocket enthusiast as well. You're right--there are rules for specific model rockets (1 pound or less, no use of metal, et al.) The National Association of Rocketry set these rules.

      But there is such a thing as amateur rocketry, which has a different, more complex set of rules. I don't want to talk much more about this since I don't participate, but these people have massive rockets that fly to substantial heights with very high impulse engines. I don't know if the NAR is the sanctioning body for these people, but, provided they follow the rules for these devices from whatever body provides them, it shouldn't be a problem.

      Otherwise, people like Dick Rutan and other amateur rocketry fans would have a very hard time trying to win the X Prize (http://www.xprize.org/).
      • Amateur Rocketry is for folks making their own motors. This looks like a fairly standard Large Model or maybe High Power Rocket.

        The pad they're using is obvoiusly an Aerotech [aerotech-rocketry.com] Mantis [aerotech-rocketry.com], and the rocket isn't much bigger than the standard rockets for that pad.

        It looks like a White lightning motor from the plume, but it's hard to tell. I'd guess it flies on somehing like an F or a G. Probably under LMR rules.

        There are of course local ordinances and stuff that you need to now about, but should be nothing illegal about that launch from a national POV.

        /August, L2 High Power certified.(TRA)

    • I can assure you that the rocket was not made to get around any laws. If we wanted to make a rocket out of metal we could have. As a university we are immune of the laws regarding model rocketry when used for experimentation. Visit UAH's Student Launch Initiative's official website: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/ [uah.edu]
      • There's no "felony or penal code violation". That's obviously from someone who doesn't understand.

        I'm a member of CMASS [cmass.org], a NAR section in New England. In the past, I've been responsible for doing the regulatory paperwork needed to have a high power rocket launch.

        (speaking of which, we have a launch coming up on April 20 in Amesbury, MA -- see our launch schedule [cmass.org])

        So, while in most states there are usually no additional local restrictions (California is a notable exception). The states usually adopt the NFPA codes 1122 and 1127 as their regulations. These are what actually limit the amount of structural metal (and that's only on a high power rocket).

        However there are FAA regulations that restrict the weight, altitude, and amount or propellant that a model rocket can use. Generalizing (see the schedule link above for a more detailed table), and assuming you meet the other restrictions outlined in FAR 101 (i.e., not within 5 miles of an airport):
        • A rocket under 1lb and with up to a "G" motor can be launched with no altitude restriction.
        • A rocket under 3.3lbs and with up to a G motor is only a large model rocket; it requires no approval from the FAA, but it does require a LMR notification prior to the flight
        • A rocket over 3.3lbs of rocket or over 125g of propellant requires an FAA waiver to allow the launch.
        So, depending upon the weight of the concrete rocket (I didn't see that offhand on their page), they could have been fine with their launch, especially since they only launched on an Aerotech "E" (which is generally under 20g of propellant).

        That all being said:

        Because we are a university we have to have our own safety procedures and are not required to follow NAR rules ... As a university we are immune of the laws regarding model rocketry when used for experimentation

        None of the FAA regulations have provisions for such blanket immunity of universities; I think you are mistaken here. You should check into this.

        And, let me point out that none of this applies to amateur rocketry. As said above by someone else, that has it's own, more complex rules.

        Outside of all that, there is ongoing litigation with the BATF about their attempts to regulate the hobby. See the information at the NAR (National Association of Rocketry [nar.org]
        • I don't have a copy with me, but we were required to read these codes so that we were sure we complied with them. Near the end it said that this code does not appliy to universities. I think there is a copy in our lab and I will get back to you. Ricky
        • In the copy I have: NFPA 1122 (1997 Edition) Under Chapter 1 General Requirements. 1-1.4 "This code shall not apply to the design, construction, production, manufacture, fabrication, maintenance, launching, flight, test, operation, use of, or any other activity in connection with a rocket or rocket motor when carried out or engaged in by any of the following: (a) The government of the United States of America (b) Any state or local government (c) Any individual, firm,....engaged as a licensed business in the research, development, production, testing, maintenance, or supply of rockets, rocket motors, rocket propellant chemicals, or rocket components or parts (d) Any college or university."
        • If nothing else, they claim to be sponsored by NASA. Now, if anybody could arrange an FAA exception, I'm sure that NASA has the connections/rights/knowledge to arrange it.

  • How about... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by nicklott ( 533496 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:32AM (#3315199)
    ...a concrete submarine [popularmechanics.com]?

    There was a whole article about this in the New Scientist a couple of months ago, it's not on their site but I seem to recall it mentioned concrete planes too...

  • gets there first. I`m sure, though i cant remember the title, that i read a book about concrete space-ships. The idea was that if it got hit by a missile/laser, it`d just crumble a little - it wouldnt be as noticable around the whole craft. Something like that. (I`m sure someone reading this knows exactly what i`m talking about!)
  • I dl. the video of the launch... hell, it could have been made of plastic for all I know... Even so, the rocket was not all cement anyway. Is this trula an amazing feat? I fail to see in what way, maybe someone could explain this to me.
    oh actually, maybe it's just a slow news day maybe that's why tremendous bit of info arrived a year late. I think they could be keeping the "metal boat" info for an even slower day.
    • Amazing you was not the point. The rocket is made with two layers of carbon fiber and cement that, instead of gravel, has small micro-bubbles, which are filled with air, making it light, and has some latex mixed in it. The carbon fiber keeps the concrete from breaking and crumbling and there is a light layer of epoxy on the outside so that it will be nice and smooth. Find out more: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/ [uah.edu]

  • Wow.. (Score:3, Funny)

    by rootedgimp ( 523254 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @06:57AM (#3315278)
    Wow, I must say, I'm proud to live in this state now! Billy Bob spent his 4 years learning how to make concrete fly! See, Alabama isn't so bad, after all. No, really.
    • See, Alabama isn't so bad, after all.

      Its primary purpose, of course, is to give Georgia a buffer zone for Mississippi.

    • Seriously. Alabama could use another ten Huntsvilles to keep intelligent people from moving to Atlanta out of embarrassment.

      More Warner von Braun!
      Less Judge Roy Moore!
      And when someone leaves for the Jerry Springer studio, pay 'em to stay there!
  • What's next? Concrete cell phones? I could use a cell phone that could float

    So you want an Aquapac [psiweb.com]?

  • Concrete Submarine (Score:3, Informative)

    by zardor ( 452852 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @07:31AM (#3315362)
    There has even been serious military planning for concrete submarines [popularmechanics.com]. Since concrete is very strong under pressure, such subs can sink to enormous depths and lurk on the sea bottom, looking like a rock to enemy sonar. Steel subs can only go down about half a mile.
  • Check out the GNCTR:

    Great
    Northern
    Concrete
    Toboggan
    Race

    at http://www.google.com/search?q=gnctr+concrete+tobo ggan&hl=en&safe=off [google.com]

  • Concrete Toboggans (Score:3, Interesting)

    by ParisTG ( 106686 ) <tgwozdz AT gmail DOT com> on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @07:44AM (#3315403)
    Several Universities around here build concrete toboggans [google.ca]. Take a look, it's actually quite intersting.

  • Footfall (Score:3, Funny)

    by tandoor ( 571899 ) on Wednesday April 10, 2002 @07:57AM (#3315435) Homepage
    I guess when the attack of the smart elephants starts we really will be able to build concrete rockets powered by nuclear bombs!

    Who knew Jerry Pournelle was a true visionary?

  • so, you want to get into space, huh? well, you're gonna have to talk to vito, cuz nobody gets no rockets til vito and his boys are in on the action.

    ________________________________________________ __ __
  • If you read the article, you'd see that:

    1. "This unique interaction prevents the concrete from cracking and, when properly designed, the composite section can withstand more stress and absorb more energy than an advanced aerospace composite made using materials such as graphite and epoxy."

    2. "Two of our chapter members and some other students on campus recently put this claim to the test by designing, building, and launching the first rocket made from reinforced concrete."

    Maybe the SR-71 [fas.org] won't leak on the runway!

    • SR71 is made of titanium that expands while in flight. In order to get this to work, the metal is smaller while it's on the ground, causing gaps in the metal where fuel leaks out.

      On a side note, it's pretty hard to get the jet fuel the SR71 uses to ignite. A plain 'ol match won't do it. The plane needs a separate starting vehicle to get the fuel lit.

      The plane is still cool, even if it's almost 40 years old.
    • It's true! I helped build the rocket. It has a couple of layer of a carbon fiber mesh held together with concrete.

  • New Zealand man builds Brick boat [nzherald.co.nz].

    "As Peter Lange's two-tonne brick boat was lowered into the water for its maiden voyage yesterday, it was hard to ignore the fact that it was April Fool's Day."

  • Hmmm. Actually, the US government embarked on a program to develop a fleet of concrete ships during WWI and WWII. If you've ever been to Cape May, NJ or Seacliff Beach, California you may have seen the remnants of two of these boats. The "Flagship of Texas" is another concrete wreck off Galveston, Texas and one ran aground off Cuba and is now a hotel.

    There's actually ten of these ships still afloat as part of a giant floating breakwater [thesunshinecoast.com] on the Powell River in Canada.

  • They should team up with this guy [bbc.co.uk]; he can help them out if they have any in-flight damage.
  • I wouldn't like to be under one of those when it falls out of the sky.
  • a Led Zepplin.

    (couldn't resist)
  • What the heck! We're talking about making rockets and submerines and stuff out of this super concrete?!?!?? Let's be practical and fix the damn streets with the stuff!!!
  • The mix design for their winning canoe can
    be described as "graphite-reinforced waterproof
    foam rubber" just as well as calling it
    concrete. While it does have a large amount
    of portland cement in the mix, it also has
    latex and microspheres (which reduce weight
    by providing air bubbles), and is reinforced
    by graphite fibers.

    Daniel
  • The American Society of Civil Engineers [acse.org] runs a nationwide contest [masterbuilders.com] each year, where teams of college students build concrete canoes, race them against other schools in their area, and then meet for a national race. This year's race is in Wisconsin. I've also been told that some places build concrete tobaggans too, but not for a contest.

    My girlfriend is the captain of the Johns Hopkins University Concrete Canoe Team [jhu.edu]. The presentation was held just this past Sunday, against Catholic University in DC. Over the past 3 years of her doing this, I've picked up a few things. Concrete isn't just for cinder-blocks... depending on how you mix it, what you add to it, how you pour it and cure it, and what you pour it ON (example: mix it with microspheres or layer it between sheets of fiberglass mesh), you can make a very lightweight, low-density (read: floats) structure.

    Even though I know all this, the old jokes never get less funny. "Concrete canoe? You row, I'll watch."

  • Concrete Rocket (Score:2, Interesting)

    by cyberdork33 ( 572509 )
    Ok I know there are alot of people who think that the whole concrete rocket thing is stupid. In fact it was done just to see if it could be done. The real project that this team works on is much bigger. I helped. Student Launch Initiative of The University of Alabama in Huntsville's official website is: http://www.eng.uah.edu/~sli/ [uah.edu] You can fins the videos and such there. The newest videos of our launch to 11,000 ft should be posted soon.

  • Dr Moser tells why... (Score:1, Informative)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I E-mailed Dr. Moser (pictured on the website) who happens to be a friend of mine... when asked "Why?" here's his response:

    ========
    Because we can.

    The concrete canoe contest has been a long standing contest started at BYU civil engineering department many years ago. The UAH students have made some very light weight tough concrete. As part of our Student Launch Initiative we were talking about different material and some of the students work on the canoe. I asked if they could make a tube from it and so they did. They have a large one (3" dia. and nearly 4' long) about 90% complete.
    ========

    So you can see it's not QUITE done... Slashdot posters don't always have their facts straight.
  • Like we don't have ENOUGH jokes about Huntsville?
  • I remember when I was about 8 years old (2nd grade or so) and taking a test in school. There was this one multiple-choice question that went something like:

    "What can a telescope be made out of?

    A. Concrete
    ...some other choices..."

    After thinking for a minute I figured that I could build a telescope out of concrete. Well, most of it anyway, then fit the lenses inside.

    Naturally the teacher marked that answer wrong. I did try to explain why I picked that answer only to be blown off and told that is not the right answer. Man, that still pisses me off even though that was 20 some years ago. No wonder I hated school.
  • This reminds me of an article i read in new scientist (i think) about this guy who developed concrete submarines.

    The idea was that they would behave like aeroplanes, having wings, so instead of controling altitude with varying bouyancy as in a balloon or conventional submarine it would fly through the water like a heavier than air aircraft.

    This would have lead to subs which could carry very heavy loads. The major problem was safety if there was an accident the sub couldnt rely just on its natural bouyancy to surface.

    According to him the Germans in WWII and the russians afterwards put some serious research into it.
  • A concrete hot air balloon would really be something.
  • because it was SO FRICKEN STUPID! The fact it even made it as a submission just really pissed me off.

    Let me get to my first beef. The link take's you to a page that describes a cement canoe. BIG WOOT! Out here in California, around Santa Cruz we have a state beach with a HUGE cement boat, not some dinky little canoe.

    I wish I had a link to a picture, or something from the state park, but Iâ(TM)ll do my best to tell the story. During the war metal was in short supply (all going to the war effort) so efforts were made to find alternate materials (ala cement)

    Now my second point concerns that rocket. I've built quite a few model rockets in my lifetime, mainly Estes kit's. The concrete rocket looks exactly like a Estes model 1818. It sounded like they used a C6-7, i.e. engine size C, 6-second burst, 7 second delay to parachute deployment. Listen to the video yourself you can hear it. The point Iâ(TM)m trying to make is ANY dope can take a Estes model kit, cover the paper tube with some stucco, stick a fat engine in there and it will probably fly. Will Nasa be looking at this anytime soon? Hell No! Model rockets with their solid fuel gunpowder engines are no comparison to a huge steel rocket pressurized with several atmospheres of oxygen as fuel.

    Anyways, really stupid article, whoever submitted it THANK YOU for making the slashdot population just a little dumber.

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