3 ms·

> 3d positional/velocity precision. SpaceX has prove that they can reliably land on a target, usually within meters On Earth, which has GPS. On a very highly e

> 3d positional/velocity precision. SpaceX has prove that they can reliably land on a target, usually within meters On Earth, which has GPS. On a very highly engineered landing surface. Landing on inertial guidance on soft regolith is a whole different ballgame.

nomel 2y ago
> Landing on inertial guidance Which is not the future. Optical/lidar/positioning radio is the future, to make it closed loop (NASA’s Laser Retroreflector Array for high, lidar/optical for low altitudes). > On a very highly engineered landing surface. As I mentioned, we shouldn't assume the earthy landing legs are used. That would be a very silly assumption. From what I can extract from your comment, you believe that the positioning system and landing legs are the issue, rather than the control systems. I suspect both are somewhat related: positioning system to place it over predictable regolith with some, yet-undeveloped, landing legs that need to work at 1/6th gravity. I'm of the opinion that it's possible/solvable, as is NASA. It would be helpful if you would answer why you think it's not possible: what requirement do you see that make positioning and landing on regolith unachievable for SpaceX? [1] https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasas-laser-navigation-tech-enables-commercial-lunar-exploration/ https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasas-la...
- literalAardvark 2y ago
  It may be possible. It may also be that the regolith is too fluffy in that area to support such a large structure without a pad. I don't believe we know. Athena had multiple laser altimeters on board: they failed to get a fix, perhaps because of the weird surface. It's my opinion that this isn't something that's easy to do, even for a company that has landed on Earth.

3 ms·

> 3d positional/velocity precision. SpaceX has prove that they can reliably land on a target, usually within meters On Earth, which has GPS. On a very highly e

by literalAardvark 2y ago

nomel 2y ago
> Landing on inertial guidance Which is not the future. Optical/lidar/positioning radio is the future, to make it closed loop (NASA’s Laser Retroreflector Array for high, lidar/optical for low altitudes). > On a very highly engineered landing surface. As I mentioned, we shouldn't assume the earthy landing legs are used. That would be a very silly assumption. From what I can extract from your comment, you believe that the positioning system and landing legs are the issue, rather than the control systems. I suspect both are somewhat related: positioning system to place it over predictable regolith with some, yet-undeveloped, landing legs that need to work at 1/6th gravity. I'm of the opinion that it's possible/solvable, as is NASA. It would be helpful if you would answer why you think it's not possible: what requirement do you see that make positioning and landing on regolith unachievable for SpaceX? [1] https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasas-laser-navigation-tech-enables-commercial-lunar-exploration/ https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasas-la...
- literalAardvark 2y ago
  It may be possible. It may also be that the regolith is too fluffy in that area to support such a large structure without a pad. I don't believe we know. Athena had multiple laser altimeters on board: they failed to get a fix, perhaps because of the weird surface. It's my opinion that this isn't something that's easy to do, even for a company that has landed on Earth.