metal used for space craft

[curlyfilm]

is there any truth that the metal used for the first american space craft, was taken from sunken first world war ships, as since the first atomic test/bombs the available metal was not as strong

[Mortartube]

Apparently so, I remember reading that metal was being taken from WWI wrecks at Jutland to make high sensitivity equipment for radiation monitoring, as they were sunk before any atomic tests and so have lower "inherent" radiation levels. These devices are sometimes used in space craft. So the reason is not strength of the metal, but low radiation.

[Catso]

I find that hard to believe. Surely, spacecraft are made of aluminium, titanium and such like, for weight reasons.

Secondly, freshly mined iron ore has been underground since long before any atomic testing, why would that not have a similar lack of radioactivity?

And don't the US have their own wrecks to plunder; why come all the way to steal ours? Isn't Jutland a war grave?

[Mortartube]

Sorry, Scapa flow, not Jutland. Only radiation monitoring equipment is made of it AFAIK.

http://www.viridiandesign.org/notes/251-300/00 270_hiding_the_garbage.html

[brachiopod]

It's difficult to take any article that includes the word 'cockamamie' seriously.......

[Mortartube]

I agree brachiopod "cockamamie" is an awful word. I tried to post the relevant paragraphs, but couldn't for some reason only known to the God of computer **** ups. This was not my original source for this information. That was in a book, with a hard cover. So it must be true!!!!!

[brachiopod]

Aarr... books. Yes, whenever I need to check a piece of information before I post it - I turn to my books.

[KirkUSA]

No. Submarines are made of steel but spacecraft are made of lighter materials, Aluminum and titanium.