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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
Ablation (Ab*la"tion) n. [L. ablatio, fr. ablatus p. p. of auferre to carry away; ab + latus, p. p. of ferre carry: cf. F. ablation. See Tolerate.]
1. A carrying or taking away; removal. Jer. Taylor.
2. (Med.) Extirpation. Dunglison.
3. (Geol.) Wearing away; superficial waste. Tyndall.
NASA has added a new use for this word. When spacecraft re-enter earth's atmosphere they are travelling at such a high speed that the friction of even rarified air produces tremendous heat, that could melt any metal. So a special ceramic tile had to be devised. These are able to withstand the heat until air resistance has decelerated the spacecraft to a safe landing speed.It was undetected failure of these special tiles that cause destruction of Columbia. As these tiles become incandescent, a small amount of surface material is lost - this is called "ablation".
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