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SAS Disclaimer
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NASA has 3 unused Saturn V launch vehicles on display at several of their facilities around the US. But, unfortunately, after many years of being exposed to the elements the rockets are in very poor condition. On the bright side, the Smithsonian Institution has started restoration efforts on the Johnson Space Center’s Saturn.
Along with the infestation of molds, vegetation and small animals, the Saturns are also experiencing a condition called Galvanic Corrosion. This occurs when two or more dissimilar metals are in contact with each other and are exposed to an electrolyte, such as sea water or polluted moist air. Under these conditions, the more noble metal corrodes or destroys the less noble metal(s). See The Galvanic Series. The metals on this list will be corroded by those that are lower in the list. For example, magnesium will be slightly corroded by zinc but will be corroded more so by tin, because magnesium and tin are further apart in the series. Galvanic corrosion is often mistakenly referred to as electrolysis.
Also see:
In some of the above tables you will see that some items, such as stainless steel, may be listed as being either passive or active.
Passive mode --- The chromium in stainless steel combines with atmospheric oxygen to form a thin layer of oxide. This film is called a passive film and enables stainless steel to resist rusting. The chlorides in seawater may destroy the passive film more quickly than it can be repaired.
Active mode --- In low-oxygen environments, stainless steel can not readily form the protective oxide coating. This is called the active mode and results in the stainless steel being prone to corrosion.
Under some conditions, stainless steel is NOT stainless! For an example, look at series 430 stainless steel. It can be seen from the table that copper is a more noble metal and will corrode the stainless steel.
For the past 30+ years I have been working in the marine industry and have seen, time and time again, an aluminium item being needlessly turned to powder because some one used stainless steel fasteners. And in other cases I’ve seen stainless bolts eaten almost in half.
Galvanic corrosion can be reduced or eliminated by:
Choosing the proper combination of components.
Isolate the components with a compound, such as NEVERSEEZE .
Use Cathodic Protection.
The Thermoelectric Series is another series that may be of interest to the amateur.
Sabatoge? Hydrogen leak? Flammable skin? What was the real cause of the Hindenburg disaster?
SAS member Ray Lahr sent us a link that shows us how to design our own 12 sided (dodecahedron) desk calendar.
Japan’s National Maritime Research Institute has an extensive collection of links to Fish Robots. Don’t miss the selection of student built robots.
Have a look at an amateur’s work in radio astronomy and related fields.
Dr. Antonio Carlos Moreirão de Queiroz’s Electrostatic Machines page provides us with an extensive collection of DIY high voltage machines.
G. D. Mutch shows us How to Build a DIY Vandegraff Generator.
Build a simple DIY pop can Van de Graaff generator from Simon Q. Field’s Scitoys site.
The Science Forums web site provides a friendly, moderated discussion area for all science topics. All levels of discussion are welcome, from the amateur to the professional.
The Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information of the German Aerospace Center DLR is engaged in the acquisition, analysis and provision of satellite based information products on natural and man made disasters. These pages provide us with the opportunity to view many high resolution satellite photographs.
JDMCox Software provides a collection of aerial photo and topo map utility programs such as USAPhotoMaps, which enables you to download data from Microsoft's free TerraServer Web site.
The Global Climate Animations from the Dept of Geography, University of Oregon, show the seasonal climatic cycles for the 38 years, between 1959 and 1997.
Global Warming may result in the eventual extension of the North Cascade Ice Worms
The Royal Society, founded in 1660, is the UK’s national academy of science that plays a crucial role as the champion of top quality science and technology.
Volcano World’s web site is the Web's premier source of volcano Information.
The mindat.org site says that they are the largest mineral database and mineralogical reference web site on the internet. The site contains worldwide data on minerals, mineral localities and other mineralogical information.
The history of Gros Morne National Park is etched in stone.
Larry Orcutt’s Catchpenny Mysteries of Ancient Egypt takes a look at some of the more questionable theories that seem to run so rampant.
The South Pointing Chariots were Chinese devices or horse drawn carts on which stood a figure whose one arm pointed south, no matter which way the cart travelled.
Dr. Daniel Simberloff, an invasive species expert at the University of Tennessee, talks to NOVA about some of the worst invaders. See, also, Deep Sea Invasion.
Build a DIY Solar Water Pasteurizer from everyday recycled items.
The Steve Spangler Science web site, a supplier of inexpensive science supplies and kits, has a collection of inexpensive DIY science experiments and demonstrations.
Reeko's Mad Scientist Lab is an online source of science projects and experiments for students, parents and teachers.
The Jason Project is a multi-disciplinary program that sparks the imagination of students and enhances the classroom experience.
Planet Science is a UK based science resource for teachers and parents.
The OceanLink project brings science to the citizen. As a department of the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Bamfield, British Columbia, their primary goal is to educate the public about the importance of the marine environment and its conservation through interactive, electronic media.
Chem Lab Safety and Organic Laboratory Safety Notes are two sites covering basic lab safety.
Mud Puddle Home Education (UK) is a source of material for home schoolers. See their Kitchen Science page.
Being listed here does not constitute an endorsement by SAS or me of any information, product or service.
Science Kit is a leading supplier of materials and equipment to science teachers and parents.
The Science Fair.org is a supplier of a wide selection of scientific supplies to schools, educators, home-schoolers and the general public.
Supercircuits.com has a nice selection of super small (1.25”x1.25”) video cameras with prices starting at $11.95(US). Check them out, if you need video input for your project.
Micromega Corporation, of Kingston ON, manufactures the uM-FPU floating point math coprocessor IC that is compatible with many micro controllers such as the STAMP or PIC. The chip sells for $14.95 (US).
What can you do with your collection of empty pop or beer bottles? Why not build a bottle organ?
Can’t get to sleep? Then why not try your hand at experimenting with some blanket lightning with wvlightning.com?
A painting that was found inside the Tomb of Ptah-Hotep, at Saqqara, Egypt, dating from the 5th Dynasty, shows an image that looks like analien grey'. Does this prove, once and for all, that the building of the Pyramids was aided by alien intelligence? But, then on the other hand, have a look at this “ET” from The Catchpenny.org’s point of view. 
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