5 ms·

Why use a helicopter, when a system like the Fulton surface-to-air-recovery system already exists? Inflate a balloon from the top of the parachute, use a C-130

by chiph 12y ago

Why use a helicopter, when a system like the Fulton surface-to-air-recovery system already exists? Inflate a balloon from the top of the parachute, use a C-130 to grab the line. Batman even used it in The Dark Knight :) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-air_recovery_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fulton_surface-to-air_recovery_...

JshWright 12y ago
The idea is to keep it out of that nasty salt water (cold salt water + hot rocket engines is a bad combination...). That's why they're going for a Corona style recovery.
- chiph 12y ago
  Corona used a C-130 system as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-air_retrieval#/media/File:Corona_recovery_sequence.PNG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-air_retrieval#/media/File:C... Thinking about it, it might be a weight constraint to cause them to use a helicopter. The sudden capture of an object weighing a few thousand pounds by a plane flying 350 mph could be too dangerous.
  - JshWright 12y ago
    The major difference between Corona and Fulton is that Fulton is not mid-air (and therefore involves the thing being retrieved getting a saltwater bath).
  - astrodust 12y ago
    There are some pretty big helicopters out there that wouldn't blink at picking up a load like this. The Chinook is used for cargo transport quite frequently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook
- arethuza 12y ago
  Speaking of moving vehicles and people in the sea - the UK SBS have a rather interesting technique for divers getting picked up by a moving submarine. The divers wait in two teams separated by a line, they notify the sub that then raises its periscope and steers between the two groups snagging the line. The divers then climb along the line to the sub. [NB This was what they were doing ~1970 according to Paddy Ashdown]
thelambentonion 12y ago
NASA's Sounding Rocket program used to use a system similar to the CORONA that you mention below. To my knowledge, it was retired due to the high risk nature of the recovery; there was at least one close call involving the chute line and a propeller. Now the payloads that need to be recovered are just sealed to prevent saltwater contamination and fitted with flotation aids and dye markers so a recovery team can find them.

by chiph 12y ago

JshWright 12y ago

The idea is to keep it out of that nasty salt water (cold salt water + hot rocket engines is a bad combination...). That's why they're going for a Corona style recovery.

chiph 12y ago
Corona used a C-130 system as well. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-air_retrieval#/media/File:Corona_recovery_sequence.PNG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-air_retrieval#/media/File:C... Thinking about it, it might be a weight constraint to cause them to use a helicopter. The sudden capture of an object weighing a few thousand pounds by a plane flying 350 mph could be too dangerous.
- JshWright 12y ago
  The major difference between Corona and Fulton is that Fulton is not mid-air (and therefore involves the thing being retrieved getting a saltwater bath).
- astrodust 12y ago
  There are some pretty big helicopters out there that wouldn't blink at picking up a load like this. The Chinook is used for cargo transport quite frequently: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_CH-47_Chinook
arethuza 12y ago
Speaking of moving vehicles and people in the sea - the UK SBS have a rather interesting technique for divers getting picked up by a moving submarine. The divers wait in two teams separated by a line, they notify the sub that then raises its periscope and steers between the two groups snagging the line. The divers then climb along the line to the sub. [NB This was what they were doing ~1970 according to Paddy Ashdown]

thelambentonion 12y ago

NASA's Sounding Rocket program used to use a system similar to the CORONA that you mention below. To my knowledge, it was retired due to the high risk nature of the recovery; there was at least one close call involving the chute line and a propeller. Now the payloads that need to be recovered are just sealed to prevent saltwater contamination and fitted with flotation aids and dye markers so a recovery team can find them.