Heatshield |
Heatshield |
Dec 22 2004, 09:03 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 470 Joined: 24-March 04 From: Finland Member No.: 63 |
Heatshield AHOY!
:-) -------------------- Antti Kuosmanen
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Dec 27 2004, 03:41 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 753 Joined: 23-October 04 From: Greensboro, NC USA Member No.: 103 |
Anybody have a guess at the heatshield's approximate speed when it impacted?
Going back through the timeline, it looks like the heatshield separates from the backshell at somewhere between 25,000 and 30,000 feet in alitutde, 20 seconds after chute deployment (the chute deploys at 30,000 feet and 1,000 mph). I wonder what the terminal velocity is for such an object...relatively flat and light - how much would wind resistance have slowed it down even though there is less air than on earth, but counteracted somewhat by lower gravity? Genesis came in pretty hot and didn't even have the benefit of a parachute, but it impacted at "only" 200 mph. I agree that it looks like the big piece is turned inside-out. I would bet that the thermal blankets go on the inside. The schematic on the MER website also indicates that there is a "radar absorber" in the heatshield - is that part of the blanket's function? Piece "B" looks like it has some charred surfaces readily visible. -------------------- Jonathan Ward
Manning the LCC at http://www.apollolaunchcontrol.com |
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