Because wings significantly increase the square footage of structure and heatshield without increasing the amount of payload volume they are a very inefficient recovery system in comparison to deployable parachutes. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Suspicion: Unproven method (unlike Apollo, which btw had a canted heatshield but it is another story). ❋ Unknown (2009)
This would require either a hatch in the heatshield which was proven on MOL and Merkur, or a transposition and docking once reaching space, with the added weight of a docking system. ❋ Unknown (2009)
As to the shape decision it is just not true we saved anything since the sidewall angle, the shoulder and heatshield radii, at the very least are NOT those of Apollo's. ❋ Unknown (2009)
If I am not mistaken NASA REFUSED to use an asymmetric heatshield a la AFE on CEV. ❋ Unknown (2009)
As far as I can tell, LM is providing the heatshield and that is all. ❋ Unknown (2009)
First, volumetric efficiency is one of the most important parameters driving RLV design, it is the square footage of structure and heatshield required to enclose payload volume (see Will Hankey's papers). ❋ Unknown (2009)
Soyuz has this uncanny ability to right itself heatshield first. ❋ Unknown (2009)
It is important to realize the challenge posed in terms of TPS to such a heatshield. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Also you believe that now the heatshield on the Shuttle is safe on ascent I assume or that decision will not be taken to re-enter with potential damage? ❋ Unknown (2009)
Boeing was also providing a heatshield although it looks like the LM design is the one that will fly. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Personally, I was bored during the show - it made me want to look up technical details of the epoxy-novalac resin in fiberglass honeycomb used to make the Apollo 11 heatshield - I wish there had been MORE commercials. ❋ Frankwu (2009)
Then take one American, one Russian and one European in a Soyuz capsule with a beefed-up heatshield, boost it into lunar orbit on a Breeze-M upper stage, dock with the lander. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Not to mention the heatshield will not be in the flowfield ... ❋ Unknown (2009)
Caption: The Phoenix Mars Lander, its backshell and its heatshield are visible within this enhanced-color image of the Phoenix landing site taken on Jan. 6, 2010 by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. ❋ Unknown (2010)
For instance, they did not identify that MSL will be powered by an MMRTG, that MSL have dual redundancy designed into its electronics, that it requires a much larger launch vehicle, that it required a new landing system, a new heatshield design, and operate in much more hostile environment than Spirit and Opportunity rovers. ❋ Unknown (2008)
And a kick-ass soldier leaping out of a spaceship and riding a heatshield down to the planet below, without a parachute. ❋ Unknown (2009)
Time to fall fast and trust the heatshield, before the final milliseconds of deception. ❋ Unknown (2009)
… The parachute and backshell are invisible, the heatshield almost so, but the lander's clear. ❋ Unknown (2009)
It's enough that the WSJ is craven and gutless on this story, backing away from its decision to publish what they characterize as essentially a press release; however, it takes it to the next level of brazen, shocking gall by saying that "We suspect that the Times has tried to use the Journal as its political heatshield precisely because it knows our editors have more credibility on these matters." ❋ Unknown (2008)
