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Dumb question here... do spacex have to figure it all out again to land on Mars with different atmosphere and whatnot?
by prestigious 5y ago
Dumb question here... do spacex have to figure it all out again to land on Mars with different atmosphere and whatnot?
- avmich 5y agoShort answer: yes. Longer answer: not quite everything, but Mars conditions are significantly different. Gravity is lower and atmosphere is less dense, so terminal velocity is different, reaction to wing motions is different, engine thrust required to negate the gravity is different; all of that will at least require changes to the control algorithm and testing, at most will ask for redesign of some mechanics.
- Already__Taken 5y agothe key here being all of that is adjustments, it's not a separate system. Are they still trying to work out how to land a dragon 2 with Draco's or is that a dead end after NASA said "no". it seems like spacex still wanted to use rockets so took a route they made an alternative impossible. starship will have to be so good it cannot be ignored for humans. big bet.
- nickik 5y agoThey are of course designing it for Mars and do detailed simulations. But of course tests might show changes are needed.