5 ms·
Not an expert on this subject, but the landing phase requires much less fuel than take-off. You only need to slow the craft and during the final approach use fi
by brianobush 15y ago
Not an expert on this subject, but the landing phase requires much less fuel than take-off. You only need to slow the craft and during the final approach use fine grain thrusters to maintain control.
I do hope this is feasible.
- Someone 15y agoIt requires less fuel because air friction works with you during deceleration, not against you, and because, by the time you do the landing, the craft weighs a lot less, not because you only need to slow down. I think the video left out a lot of the dull part of aero breaking, making it look as if all breaking was done on rocket power. I do not see how this would be cheaper and safer than just using a disposable run-of-the-mill steel pipe as main engine (yes, that is exaggerating), but they must have done the math.
- jarin 15y agoIt also would take a lot more monopropellant to maneuver the entire assembly for docking with the ISS.