3 ms·
The pins/struts are a 2 point system that double as the booster lift points in general operations. The booster mostly hangs in tension which the existing tank s
by mhio 2y ago
The pins/struts are a 2 point system that double as the booster lift points in general operations. The booster mostly hangs in tension which the existing tank structure can support. I would guess they share some of the structure beefiness with the grid fins.
Legs require at least 4 points, probably more. Shock absorption hardware, ability to unfurl to an acceptable width. Require reinforcement (cross bracing) near the base of the tanks to handle the loads pushing inwards toward the center of the tanks.
- fooker 2y agoLegs require at least 3, not 4 points.
- avmich 2y agoYou can technically imagine two legs with really wide feet, allowing some perpendicular stability. I wonder if one-leg lander could be imagined. 3-legged landing scheme was used in Surveyors, first American automatic Moon landers, and was surely considered for Appolo LEMs, but rejected. So there could be additional, secondary reasons when choosing the number of legs.
- timschmidt 2y agoThe cost of one additional leg is pretty inexpensive for the redundancy it provides for the other three.
- chipsa 2y ago4 legs have no additional redundancy over 3. One leg failing will still result in the booster tipping over. They do push the maximum angle of tipping before your CG is no longer supported out farther though.
- kevin_thibedeau 2y agoUseful for when you land on the rim of a crater like Apollo 12.
- allannienhuis 2y agoI think you are both using different meanings for the word 'least'.
- willy_k 2y agoNitpick, I think the issue is different meanings for the word ‘require’. Practical/realistic minimum vs absolute/literal minimum.