5 ms·

Wow, that's unintuitive, but cool. Doesn't help on the moon, though, where the surface is soft, and may contain boulders.

• koliber 3y ago
  With a lunar lander you can play with the weight distribution. You can make it more dense on one side. This, together with a self-righting shape, could increase the chances of settling in the desired orientation.
  • giantrobot 3y ago
    While it was settling it would destroy all/most of the external fixtures including antennae, engine nozzles, and sensor housings. Bonus the rocking action during settling could puncture the hull or break a windows on a sharp boulder.
    • koliber 3y ago
      All of that could happen. What if airbags inflated around the lander? The external shape of the lander-with-inflated-airbags and the internal weight distribution could make it self-righting, while shielding the external fixtures and the hull. Just throwing ideas around and role-playing spacecraft designer.
      • giantrobot 3y ago
        Air bags are ok if you don't have humans inside being pulverized as the craft bounces and rolls. If you have people inside bouncing isn't the best.
  • roywiggins 3y ago
    Prior art: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeble https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weeble