Comments | frustratedpilot: Q & A

frustratedpilot

Q & A

Dec 11, 2009 20:30

On Facebook, Jorgelina has a question:

i´d like 2 know why space shuttles re-enter the earth at such a fast speed when it is so risky and dangerous. Why don´t they do it in a slower way as the touristic space vehicle will do?A: Because the "tourist" vehicle uses a different system that hadn't been invented when the shuttle was designed in the ( Read more... )

ideas, aviation, space travel, airplanes, invention, space program, the future, technology transfer, space tourism, facebook

Comments 6

kiffie December 12 2009, 01:40:08 UTC

I wonder sometimes if the average person has any conception of how much, technologically, we've advanced in the last few decades, or any concept of how "outdated" some of our still-used tech really is.

Although, I have run into people who thought that we used metal aircraft in WWI, so...

kiffie December 12 2009, 01:41:36 UTC

ALSO!

http://thehefner.livejournal.com/614195.html

Someone else on my flist posted pictures you may find interesting.

tochiro998 December 12 2009, 05:39:58 UTC

I don't think that's quite accurate. the Rutan ships never really hit orbital speed so there's not as much atmospheric friction, and hence they don't have a thermal control system like the Shuttle tiles.

The speed the Shuttle re-enters at is a function of the speed of the orbit, the danger is of course scrubbing off that speed via friction. In a perfect world we would have a second gen Shuttle with a modified wing to take advantage of the 'wave rider' shockwave effect, which would allow lower heat (and stronger) heat shield materials. Or even maybe not even needing more than high temp steel backed by Nomex thermal blankets.

And the BEST solution is a constant thrust rocket that eases down on its flame like God intended for rockets to do :)

frustratedpilot December 12 2009, 06:00:54 UTC

I'd thought of the orbital velocity fact too, but didn't want to overcomplicate the answer for her. Wasn't sure she'd understand. If you had seen her full message I bet you'd agree.

tochiro998 December 12 2009, 07:27:11 UTC

LOL! yes, I do get that vibe. Sorry.

altho just to get this out there, while I'm glad for what Rutan managed to do, I am a bit sad that here we are, 21st century, and the best that we can do at this point is re-inventing Apollo, specifically the 'fat Apollo' from the late '60s Apollo Applications program, and a private citizen/company does something using 1945 tech (spaceship one being not much different than an evolved Me163 Komet).

Where's the program to build SSTO ships? Arrgggh. :)

frustratedpilot December 12 2009, 16:47:44 UTC

Buried when Boeing bought McDD, I imagine...although I bet the Chinese are reverse-engineering that like they do everything else.