Wired said:
NASA engineers are testing out a new version of an old idea: fitting rotary wings to a space capsule for a helicopter-like re-entry method.
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NASA tests rotary wing space capsules
Started by
Saru
, Oct 28 2012 12:14 PM
4 replies to this topic
#1
Saru
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Posted 28 October 2012 - 12:14 PM
NASA is investigating the possibility of using helicopter-style rotary blades for capsule re-entry.
- Saru
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#2
27vet
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Posted 28 October 2012 - 05:36 PM
The challenge will be the re-entry phase and transition to subsonic speed during which the blades must be stowed. They will have to figure out a way to keep the blades out of the airflow and then deploy them when the craft is going slow enough. The flying part should be fairly straightforward.
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pallidin
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Posted 28 October 2012 - 06:33 PM
I see this as a million dollar experimental project which will be cut from further budget, due to lack of true viability.
#4
Waspie_Dwarf
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Posted 28 October 2012 - 07:33 PM
27vet, on 28 October 2012 - 05:36 PM, said:
They will have to figure out a way to keep the blades out of the airflow and then deploy them when the craft is going slow enough.
Source: http://en.wikipedia....i/Rotary_Rocket
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#5
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Posted 29 October 2012 - 09:09 AM
Waspie_Dwarf, on 28 October 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:
As Saru's original post says, this is an old idea being reinvestigated. A company (now bankrupt) called Rotary Rocket solved many of these problems back in the '90s. The even made 3 test flights of their "Roton" vehicle in 1999.
Source: http://en.wikipedia....i/Rotary_Rocket
Source: http://en.wikipedia....i/Rotary_Rocket
As I recall this prototype was very unstable and was very hard to see the ground to fly by sight. They also played with a Para-glider type parachute that showed promise , but was dropped as the leaders didn't like the idea. And didn't the Roton also have a capsule spin that was hard to control ? I'm working from memory here.
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