Comments on: The Last Five Kilometers http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/ Aiming for space through all the hazards Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:44:32 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: prasanna http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-630 prasanna Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:41:40 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-630 What is the exact kms calculated from earth to loose gravity What is the exact kms calculated from earth to loose gravity

]]> By: Scott Schneeweis http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-542 Scott Schneeweis Sat, 30 May 2009 23:53:50 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-542 Sorry...I will always remain biased for the reliability of the Apollo Earth Landing System...it was the most heavily engineered recovery system ever designed. I was so enamored, acquired one of them for my collection - see http://www.spaceaholic.com/us_artifacts.htm Sorry…I will always remain biased for the reliability of the Apollo Earth Landing System…it was the most heavily engineered recovery system ever designed. I was so enamored, acquired one of them for my collection – see http://www.spaceaholic.com/us_artifacts.htm

]]> By: truthwalker http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-216 truthwalker Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:19:53 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-216 So I did some more reading parasails rock. So I did some more reading parasails rock.

]]> By: gravityloss http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-211 gravityloss Mon, 26 May 2008 16:07:21 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-211 Well, the premise here which I didn't lay out clearly, was to reduce the cost and trouble of returning to earth. If you need to deploy a helicopter ship to fish out capsules well in advance of the landing, that is both costly and inflexible. It's not about the prestige. Well, the premise here which I didn’t lay out clearly, was to reduce the cost and trouble of returning to earth. If you need to deploy a helicopter ship to fish out capsules well in advance of the landing, that is both costly and inflexible.

It’s not about the prestige.

]]> By: truthwalker http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-209 truthwalker Fri, 23 May 2008 23:32:28 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-209 I have to disagree a bit with the idea that there is something wrong with ablative heat shields and water landings. If its stupid and it works, its not stupid. In fact, I think the very complaint against it reveals the great problem with having NASA explore space: it's not their money they're spending. A (successful) for-profit enterprise would not worry to much about if something was prestigious, only if it brought back greater return than its cost. I have to disagree a bit with the idea that there is something wrong with ablative heat shields and water landings. If its stupid and it works, its not stupid. In fact, I think the very complaint against it reveals the great problem with having NASA explore space: it’s not their money they’re spending.
A (successful) for-profit enterprise would not worry to much about if something was prestigious, only if it brought back greater return than its cost.

]]> By: gravityloss http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-204 gravityloss Mon, 19 May 2008 11:37:50 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-204 Yeah thanks Erik for the links. I guess my wording wasn't very clear about the Gemini paraglider. It was indeed researched and developed to a point but was scrapped. Yeah thanks Erik for the links.
I guess my wording wasn’t very clear about the Gemini paraglider. It was indeed researched and developed to a point but was scrapped.

]]> By: gravityloss http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-201 gravityloss Fri, 16 May 2008 09:33:44 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-201 Yeah, Gaetano, that is one option that I've thought of too. You could have very long flight range with it. But I actually think it's not necessary for the capsule, and the engines are heavy too to haul to the moon and back. But it could be used for recovering a rocket stage. There you aren't as weight-limited and need a lot of range. Yeah, Gaetano, that is one option that I’ve thought of too. You could have very long flight range with it. But I actually think it’s not necessary for the capsule, and the engines are heavy too to haul to the moon and back.

But it could be used for recovering a rocket stage. There you aren’t as weight-limited and need a lot of range.

]]> By: gaetano marano http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-200 gaetano marano Thu, 15 May 2008 20:36:09 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-200 . I suggest a (parachutes + propellers) Orion's LAKE landing: http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/030orionlakelanding.html . .

I suggest a (parachutes + propellers) Orion’s LAKE landing:

http://www.ghostnasa.com/posts/030orionlakelanding.html

.

]]> By: Erik http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/2008/05/09/the-last-five-kilometers/#comment-199 Erik Thu, 15 May 2008 19:37:44 +0000 http://gravityloss.wordpress.com/?p=86#comment-199 Actually, NASA did (have someone) study paraglider systems during the Gemini program, getting to the towed model stage. I'm not sure why it got cancelled, but cost, time and the decision to keep water-landing probably had something to do with it. Some reading: http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gemlider.htm http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gemglide.htm (developmental diary) http://sss.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/2/387 Erik Actually, NASA did (have someone) study paraglider systems during the Gemini program, getting to the towed model stage. I’m not sure why it got cancelled, but cost, time and the decision to keep water-landing probably had something to do with it.

Some reading:
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gemlider.htm
http://www.astronautix.com/craft/gemglide.htm (developmental diary)
http://sss.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/22/2/387

Erik

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