5 ms·
Electromagnets are big and heavy, and then you have to power them, which is usually more "big and heavy". "Big and Heavy" are the enemies of modern rocketry.
by M_Grey 10y ago
Electromagnets are big and heavy, and then you have to power them, which is usually more "big and heavy". "Big and Heavy" are the enemies of modern rocketry.
- neom 10y agoI thought about that, but I wondered If the landing pad was the magnet and the rocket itself wasn't? (I literally have no idea wtf I'm talking about to be clear)
- grzm 10y agoI suspect your parent is suggesting on the platform rather than the rocket. I'm not arguing whether or not it's a good idea, but that should shift a large part of the "big and heavy" issue off of the rocket.
- M_Grey 10y agoThat's a good point, and lets assumes that you can rig the rocket's legs for that without adding any weight. The issues I can imagine would be that you wouldn't get much help very far from the pad, given how quickly the EM force drops off with distance. Even worse, in those last crucial instants, instead of only having to calculate in relation to gravity, now you have to consider the rapidly increasing electromagnetic force. I'm wondering if you'd just rip any realistic feet off the lander? Either way, it seems more like adding complexity, than a safety net. The really hard part isn't the last foot, it's getting it into that position.