Alan B. Pearce wrote:
> ""For non-reusable parts like the solid rocket booster and the external
> tank, each launch is a new statistical event for an item that has never
> flown or been test fired on the ground. Once a re-useable part works it
> will work every time if maintained to specification"

I don't think it's that clear.  Reusable parts suffer fatigue.  This can be
non-obvious and unpredictable and therefore not always in the maintenence
schedule.  Look at a number of aircraft accidents caused by fatigued parts.
Yes, some of these should have been caught by the established maintenence
procedures, but not all.  If I remember correctly, the Aloha Airlines
accident where a large part of the outer skin blew off was due to fatigue,
but not something that was expected and therefore not in the maintenence
procudures.

It comes down to the relative likelyhood of early failures versus unforseen
wear and tear or aging failures.  I don't think either can be dismissed out
of hand.  The fact that the person you quote did puts all his other comments
in question too.


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