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Is 4. really doable? Would have thought landing while carrying a fully fueled rocket might be pretty high risk.
by jameshart 9y ago
Is 4. really doable? Would have thought landing while carrying a fully fueled rocket might be pretty high risk.
- mLuby 9y agoI haven't actually seen anyone mention it, but it shouldn't be much more risky than taking off fully-fueled. That said, landing with the rocket still on board might break some fuel-balancing assumptions.
- gernerz 9y agoPeagus rockets aren't cryogenic, they are solid monopropellant rockets. Not really all that dangerous.
- tacticus 9y agoLanding weights are usually a bit lower than take off weights due to the extra shock on landing. for example the a340-600 has a MTOW of 380 tons but a Max landing weight of 265 tons. Just a bit of a difference.
- rbanffy 9y agoThat's the fuel the plane takes off with. I don't know how much this beast uses, but those six engines must be burning quite a lot of it. Also, the landing gears seem to be very robust.
- Xixi 9y agoThe A340-600 has four engines, not six. But the point is still true with, say, a Boeing 787. Here are the figures for the 787-9: maximum takeoff weight: 560,000 lb; maximum landing weight: 425,000 lb [1]. In case of an emergency the pilot has to get rid of fuel before landing if the airliner is above maximum landing weight. [1] Figures given in pounds on wikipedia, the kg version looks like a "dumb" conversion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner#Specifications https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787_Dreamliner#Specific...
- rbanffy 9y agoWe don't know Roc's maximum landing weight but abort is possible if the maximum landing weight is more than weight of the whole craft plus its cargo minus the fuel. I assume it takes of with a lot of fuel because it has potentially 1.5x time fuel consumption of an old 747.
- jameshart 9y agoFundamentally, landing speeds are lower than takeoff speeds. To travel at the same (low) speed and rate of descent with more weight means getting more lift at the same speed. That is done by increasing angle of attack or adding flaps. There is a limit to both.
- tacticus 9y agoCould always dump fuel on the way back.
- robotresearcher 9y agoNot from the Pegasus solid rockets.
- rbanffy 9y agoHow much fuel the plane carries?
- tonmoy 9y agoCan the payload be dropped with a parachute? Is 200m/s safe for parachute deployment?