[SOLVED] You can't solder in zero-gee

Doug Goncz

<jabberwocky><div class="vbmenu_control"><a href="jabberwocky:;" onClick="newWindow=window.open('','usenetCode','toolbar=no,location=no, scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,status=no,width=650,height=400'); newWindow.document.write('<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>Usenet ASCII</TITLE></HEAD><BODY topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 BGCOLOR=#F1F1F1><table border=0 width=625><td bgcolor=midnightblue><font color=#F1F1F1>This Usenet message\'s original ASCII form: </font></td></tr><tr><td width=449><br><br><font face=courier><UL><PRE>\n\nHere\'s the latest research on forming solder joints in the atmosphere of the\nShuttle in zero-gee.\n\nhttp://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/16aug_solder.htm?aol786992\n\nApparently, the attraction of the solder to the surface is not aided by\ngravity, and it won\'t flow. Additionally, the rosin forms a sphere, likely due\nto surface tension, and performs the same dance around the ball of solder that\nyou see if you flick a droplet of water on your fry pan to check if it\'s hot\nenough for pancakes: the droplet is supported by and yet insulated by the vapor\nat the interface, with chaos determining the direction in which it will move.\n\n\nYours,\n\nDoug Goncz ( ftp://users.aol.com/DGoncz/incoming )\nStudent member SAE for one year.\nI love: Dona, Jeff, Kim, Mom, Neelix, Tasha, and Teri, alphabetically.\nI drive: A double-step Thunderbolt with 657% range.\n</UL></PRE></font></td></tr></table></BODY><HTML>');"> <IMG SRC=/images/buttons/ip.gif BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER ALT="View this Usenet post in original ASCII form">  View this Usenet post in original ASCII form </a></div><P></jabberwocky>Here's the latest research on forming solder joints in the atmosphere of the
Shuttle in zero-gee.

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2....htm?aol786992

Apparently, the attraction of the solder to the surface is not aided by
gravity, and it won't flow. Additionally, the rosin forms a sphere, likely due
to surface tension, and performs the same dance around the ball of solder that
you see if you flick a droplet of water on your fry pan to check if it's hot
enough for pancakes: the droplet is supported by and yet insulated by the vapor
at the interface, with chaos determining the direction in which it will move.

Yours,

Doug Goncz ( ftp://users.aol.com/DGoncz/incoming )
Student member SAE for one year.
I love: Dona, Jeff, Kim, Mom, Neelix, Tasha, and Teri, alphabetically.
I drive: A double-step Thunderbolt with 657% range.

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