The SPEARED (Single Person Emergency Atmospheric Re-Entry Device) concept Stephanie Osborne, Arlan Andrews, and I propose in the Dec 2014 Analog is intended for astronaut ejection seats capable of making it back from LEO, but could provide an inflatable heat shield for an entire craft.
Since the shuttlecock system is not intended for orbital re-entry, I'd suggest they look at SPEARED for SS3.
http://www.analogsf.com/2014_12/index.shtml
http://www.tomligon.com/ATE/Whitepapers ... D-data.pdf
Orbital Sciences rocket explodes on launch
Re: Orbital Sciences rocket explodes on launch
The OSC launch accident may have been due to a turbopump failure.
The system I've seen described for these pumps sounds a little like the one on the Space Shuttle Main Engines. The pumps self-power ... you introduce some LOX to the fuel in the pumps. Sounds really spooky but we pulled it off for decades. But this is just preliminary, and the accident is, of course, ongoing.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/ ... R520141105
The system I've seen described for these pumps sounds a little like the one on the Space Shuttle Main Engines. The pumps self-power ... you introduce some LOX to the fuel in the pumps. Sounds really spooky but we pulled it off for decades. But this is just preliminary, and the accident is, of course, ongoing.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/ ... R520141105
Re: Orbital Sciences rocket explodes on launch
I have no doubt since it was nothing like the news of Columbia.Tom Ligon wrote:Trust me, there are worse feelings than watching a scrubbed launch.KitemanSA wrote: I was in the VIP stands when that happened. Total disappointment.
Re: Orbital Sciences rocket explodes on launch
This one says they plan to subcontract to another launch provider to fulfill their nasa contract:
http://m.space.com/27669-orbital-scienc ... gines.html
What kind of chance that they would consider choose SpaceX?
http://m.space.com/27669-orbital-scienc ... gines.html
What kind of chance that they would consider choose SpaceX?
Re: Orbital Sciences rocket explodes on launch
Well, they would save money doing that.