John Smith I wrote:

[stuff]

Actually, I don't think I explained that well--for want of a better
explanation ...

Take the Michelson–Morley experiment. They were attempting to find the
equivalent of how the doppler effect affects sound in air. However, if
the way matter affects ether is similar to the way air affects sound,
the earth and its' atmosphere would be a less than optimal test bed.

Indeed, if you take the horn from a train and place it in a long train,
you would loose the effect, the skin of the train
deflects/slows/distorts/whatever the air which causes the effect.

Now, if someone where to reconstruct the Michelson–Morley experiment
from the nose of a space shuttle (no matter intervening or massive
matter in close proximity), to mirrors traveling at the same speed and
in the same trajectory of the shuttle, perhaps a quite different
conclusion would be reached. Especially, if the matter of air and
proximity to earth is masking anything enough to throw off the experiment.

I know unexpected results were obtained when a long tether was let out
behind the shuttle, and never explained to my satisfaction.

Perhaps that is a somewhat better way to express what I attempted in the
post this one responds too ...

Regards,
JS