Shiny.

Kinda makes me wonder what part's gonna fall off. . .

true true
if the cap'ns named MAL
he will hear a loud noise and
he will say 'what was that'
hehe

"Was that my primary buffer panel?"
=D
I don't think nautical boats have primary buffer panels. What is a primary buffer panel anyways!? It's probably like a self sealing stem-bolt. ;)

the primary buffer panel is what holds the whole ship's armor together, i think. either that or it is key to the reentry sequence, yes?
~ spirit of river~
( i forgot my password! )

A Primary Buffer Panel is like the supporting Beam of a House, only it's used in the ceramic tiles that absorb the heat of reentry. I'm sorry to say this, but the reason the Colombia Shuttle Exploded because the Primary Buffer Panel (Or Something Like It.) Flew off during reentry.

Columbia, the first spaceworthy STS that was built. (after the Enterprise...)

I can still remember that day, as well as the day of the Challenger disaster. I cried both times, being a space-nut and all. I always wanted to be an Astronaut until I went to Space Camp at 16 in Huntsville, Alabama, and then literally one week later, I found out that since I have ashtma, I have no chance...

To keep this within the theme of Serenity/Firefly, I think that someone should write a fanfic with a benevolent ship named Challenger, or Columbia. That would make an awesome tribute.

BTW, Washburnefan, thanks for the explaination. I thought I was all smart and fanciful, but I'm used to hearing Star Trek "Tech Talk" whenever they can't think of anything that is actually real, feasable, or theoretically possible. Like "Self Sealing Stem Bolts!" =D

Cheers all!

It took me a while to notice, but that's me above!

You know, the ship from this position looks strikingly like an Imperial Star-Destroyer :)