2 ms·

IIUC, it has 12 strategically arranged RCS and 2(1 broken) main thrusters, ALL installed on a back facing mounting plate now pointing spaceward. I'm kind of sus

IIUC, it has 12 strategically arranged RCS and 2(1 broken) main thrusters, ALL installed on a back facing mounting plate now pointing spaceward. I'm kind of suspecting there could have been cool factor involved in the decision leading to this design.

Aspos 3y ago
So, yeah, what prevents them from rolling the probe using RCS?
- numpad0 3y ago
  The fact that it's all pointing up!
  - Aspos 3y ago
    But the roll thrusters are not pointing up, are they?
    - numpad0 3y ago
      So, a pair of thrusters tilted 45 degrees up and down like ailerons can be called roll thrusters, and anyone who says that in deadpan straight face as an actual spacecraft engineer is completely insane, right? 1: https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/slim/SLIM/assets/img/SLIM_exp.png https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/home/slim/SLIM/assets/img/SLIM_exp....
      - Aspos 3y ago
        Was hoping a spacecraft engineer would explain why tilted thrusters can't create enough angular momentum to roll the probe in terms which a humble software engineer would understand.
        numpad0 3y ago
        :shrug: - they didn't elaborate on that. Probably just not worth it.