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The large delta wings on the space shuttle are what allow the large cross-range, by letting it "turn" on the way down. The single polar orbit was to allow rapid
by nickff 4y ago
The large delta wings on the space shuttle are what allow the large cross-range, by letting it "turn" on the way down. The single polar orbit was to allow rapid, stealthy insertion of a reconnaissance satellite into polar orbit. According to the space shuttle engineers, there was never any contemplation of arming the shuttle, though the DoD did set many requirements (including payload bay size and cross-range).
- KRAKRISMOTT 4y agoSo an old school hypersonic glider
- nickff 4y agoBasically, although the space shuttle has the worst glide ratio of any aerospace vehicle I am aware of. To simulate landing the shuttle, they used a businessjet with the engines in reverse…
- Sharlin 4y agoA brick with small stubby wings bolted on.
- rpmw 4y agoYep! No go arounds once you re-entered. Here's the training aircraft: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Training_Aircraft https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuttle_Training_Aircraft
- NegativeLatency 4y agoCool, interesting bit about how it actually simulated the flight characteristics that I didn't know before: > To match the descent rate and drag profile of the real Shuttle at 37,000 feet (11,300 m), the main landing gear of the C-11A was lowered (the nose gear stayed retracted due to wind load constraints) and engine thrust was reversed. Its flaps could deflect upwards to decrease lift as well as downwards to increase lift.
- grecy 4y agoHere's a cool video of landing the shuttle in real time. The whole landing proceeds unnervingly fast! The actual landing HUD and audio starts at 13:40 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb4prVsXkZU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb4prVsXkZU
- neuronexmachina 4y agoI assume the details are highly-classified, but I'm curious if a similar cross-range capability is part of what the DOD's been experimenting with via the X-37B.