kkeenan 14 #1 February 13, 2008 Information about the Constellation Program, follow-on to the Space Shuttle. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a2PaTECVSk_____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #2 February 13, 2008 Yay! We're back to where we left off -36- years ago. Imagine where we'd be now if we hadn't stopped back then.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #3 February 13, 2008 I find it odd NASA went back to the original way that they went to the moon, ie, seperate vehicles for crew and lander. It makes sense, just a little funny.Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #4 February 13, 2008 Well, it has a lot to do with the amount of fuel required to break orbit. If you don't have to take all that weight to the surface of the Moon, which requires energy to stop, and haul it back up to orbit, then you save quite a bit of it. That means they can spend more of their weight budget on things like experiments and whatnot rather than stuff they'd just be burning. I'm sure that eventually there will be systems that travel straight from Earth orbit to the Moon's surface and back, but we're not going to see them in the very near future. Certainly not in my lifetime.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fpritchett64 0 #5 February 13, 2008 I thought it was kinda odd that they went back to the old way of landing, in a capsule under a parachute. Think they'll use ram airs this time? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #6 February 13, 2008 Quote I thought it was kinda odd that they went back to the old way of landing, in a capsule under a parachute. Think they'll use ram airs this time? My guess is Roy Fox knows!quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
simplyputsi 0 #7 February 13, 2008 Quote I thought it was kinda odd that they went back to the old way of landing, in a capsule under a parachute. Think they'll use ram airs this time? who is gonna steer em??Skymama's #2 stalker - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #8 February 13, 2008 Quotewho is gonna steer em?? NASA has already tested ram air parachutes for use on crew recovery vehicles. The system is fully automated. http://www.astronautix.com/craft/x38.htmquade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkeenan 14 #9 February 14, 2008 That system worked pretty well, but the development of the big ram air was tied to the X-38 Crew Rescue Vehicle, which had its funding stopped several years ago. Veteran Master Rigger and Champion CRWDog Dave Hillebrandt worked on that one and is currently working on the development of the new Constellation recovery system. No ram-airs, however. It uses big rounds, just like Apollo, only better canopies. Kevin K. _____________________________________ Dude, you are so awesome... Can I be on your ash jump ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
