Word: thermally
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...simple reactor of the Nautilus is not simple by normal standards. Its official name is STR (Submarine Thermal Reactor), because the neutrons that are its "fire" are slowed down to the "thermal" speed of molecules in everyday matter. Basically, it is a "core" containing enriched uranium,† cooled by ordinary water that is kept by high pressure from turning into steam. The water comes out of the reactor hot and radioactive. Tightly shielded against radiation, it goes through a "heat exchanger" (a kind of boiler), where it turns a second batch of water into high-pressure steam. The steam. which...
...supersonic age, Kindelberger and other planemakers face a new challenge to tax their ingenuity: the thermal barrier. At speeds contemplated for the near future, tough aluminum will lose much of its strength because of friction-generated heat (titanium will replace it for many uses). Cockpit canopies of today's materials will soften like putty; present-day electronic equipment may fail. The U.S. will have its hands full keeping ahead on such problems. Despite the success of the Sabre in Korea, Kindelberger does not underestimate the mechanical ability of the Russians. Says he: "Our conception of the Russian is crazy...
...Navy, the nation's aircraft factories are turning out sleek, powerful experimental aircraft, unburdened by armor or guns, that are punching their way into the stratosphere at more than double the speed of sound. A few of them can fly fast enough to nudge the implacable thermal barrier (a speed limit of about 2,500 m.p.h.-TIME, May 26). Between them, the Air Force and the Navy have been experimenting with at least seven such research planes...
Airman Echols says that his main job is to try to guess what the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be wanting five years hence. Northrop's job is to make them want what he designs. Right now, Northrop is worrying about the "thermal barrier"- the speeds where air friction will disintegrate metal planes. He is experimenting with fuselages made of glass fiber, which will not melt at those speeds. Looking further ahead to the days of pilotless planes, Northrop already has about 14% of his work force on guided missiles, expects a production contract soon. Against rainy days, Northrop...
...find the practical limits of the thermal barrier, says Rice, "take a hypothetical missile flying at 2,000 m.p.h. at 60,000 ft." If it were no bigger than a home refrigerator it would need the power of 20 such refrigerators to keep it cool enough. The real barrier "may be the point at which the power required to cool the equipment equals the power of the airplane or missile...