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Posted: |
Apr 29, 2016 - 4:41 AM
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By: |
Grecchus
(Member)
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We need to bear in mind that the Dragon2/Crew has yet to be operationally test flown in LEO - it would probably be merged with a mission to the ISS. Also, when it de-orbits for return to the surface does it deploy parachutes or do they open up those 16,000 lb thrust Super Draco engines to soft land it on Terra Firma? Now, I don't think they will attempt to put it down on a sea platform in the event of a thrust-assisted landing, so where exactly would it land (theoretically, it could land on the helipad of a skyscraper)? If it can land on Earth, what are the margins with respect to fuel usage - who wouldn't be a bit cagey about entrusting their life to a perfectly controlled burn, with leftover fuel sloshing around the baffles after experiencing the tiniest of bumps?
Boeing's Starliner concept is shown here with astronauts using large LCDs for interactive training. Can anyone surmise what the displays common to both astronauts are all about? It looks to me as if they're practicing docking approach procedures to the ISS. Notice the right hand held joystick controller. The astronaut/pilot can only perform discrete translations that are limited by the physical movements allowed - forward, backward, left, right and/or a combination. Suni Williams also appears to be using her left hand to adjust another controller - I wonder if that is for pitch, roll and yaw or simply a toggle to switch the joystick between translational and rotational modes of control. It has a guard rail around it to help prevent any accidental nudging, so whatever it does is important.
http://www.space.com/32730-astronauts-fly-starliner-simulater-trainers.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3560921/NASA-astronauts-prepare-flight-commercial-spacecraft.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3462708/A-look-inside-Orion-Nasa-reveals-just-three-screens-used-control-spacecraft-humans-Mars.html
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Posted: |
Apr 29, 2016 - 6:07 AM
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By: |
Solium
(Member)
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We need to bear in mind that the Dragon2/Crew has yet to be operationally test flown in LEO - it would probably be merged with a mission to the ISS. Also, when it de-orbits for return to the surface does it deploy parachutes or do they open up those 16,000 lb thrust Super Draco engines to soft land it on Terra Firma? Now, I don't think they will attempt to put it down on a sea platform in the event of a thrust-assisted landing, so where exactly would it land (theoretically, it could land on the helipad of a skyscraper)? If it can land on Earth, what are the margins with respect to fuel usage - who wouldn't be a bit cagey about entrusting their life to a perfectly controlled burn, with leftover fuel sloshing around the baffles after experiencing the tiniest of bumps?
I was confused by the statement the ship will be designed to land anywhere in the solar system too. Different orbital bodies have different gravity, some with atmospheres of varying degree, etc. So as you stated the amount of fuel you would need would depend on your final destination.
This is just an assumption but I would guess landing on Mars or a similar body would also include a parachute, which would slow down the craft down on de-orbit then are jettisoned before the landing thruster's kit in.
Regarding the ship displays it does look like they are practicing manual docking. I assume that's for emergencies. Isn't docking automated now?
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Posted: |
Apr 29, 2016 - 6:44 AM
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By: |
Grecchus
(Member)
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I don't know if Dragon2/Crew has drogue chutes in the event of an engine assisted landing - I'm inclined to think not, as they would interfere with the velocity curves. We don't see the Falcon 9 deploy parachutes at any point in their flight paths, do we - they deploy those grid fin aerofoils and fire their cold thrusters to help with directional control and, remarkably, that is all that seems to be required other than the obviously necessary ability for the rocket exhaust nozzle to be able to gimbal about. I imagine the best way to do any kind of space flying is by computer automation. Flesh and blood might still be the 'creator' but electrons conducting along electrical pathways in feedback loops go the fastest. There is, of course, the peculiarly human aesthetic of being fundamentally in control. Those poor astronauts have to sit patiently from liftoff and monitor the computers via their output. The ships are simply moving too damn fast and the orbital pathways are too fine to allow humans to interfere because small deviations from course and track by hand and eye co-ordination alone can yield highly magnified errors in actuality. Once the computers have done the bulk of the job of nailing the precise shape of the orbit, rendezvous between vehicles moving at broadly similar speed can be relegated to human comprehension. At the end of the day, human beings are not just machines - they like to play. 
The Dragon spacecraft has Earth as its "gravitational standard." Venus is roughly earth sized but is impossibly hot for people, as is Mercury. No other planets in the solar system other than Mars can be set foot upon, so that leaves the moons and asteroids of the solar system. If Dragon can land on Earth, then it can land anywhere else because Earth sets that standard, provided it has a service module attached which can be adjusted to suit a particular mission profile.
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