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A comment on SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (a.k.a. R2-D2) worked by tracking the stars. Parent comment

Re:SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (a.k.a. R2-D2) worked by... by NamTaf on Monday September 25, 2023 @10:21PM (#37653525)
Yup, at Mach 3+ the fuselage expands so significantly that gaps need to exist when it’s stationary, otherwise it’d buckle. So the gaps mean it leaks fuel when stationary.
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Re:SR-71 Blackbird Astro-Nav System (a.k.a. R2-D2) worked by... by chipsa on Tuesday September 26, 2023 @06:39AM (#37657288)
It's not supposed to leak. It just that the sealant to bridge the gaps wasn't perfect, so it'd get some leaks through the sealant.
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