2009 Or 2011 ?, 1 or 2 ? |
2009 Or 2011 ?, 1 or 2 ? |
May 3 2005, 11:11 AM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 290 Joined: 26-March 04 From: Edam, The Netherlands Member No.: 65 |
Does anybody know when and how many MSL will go, or when the decision on this will be made ?
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Jul 1 2005, 02:59 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 153 Joined: 11-December 04 Member No.: 120 |
As I understand it there are 2 options: a skycrane or a descent stage with the rover on top. The last option having the problem of driving of the lander. But did they ever consider the simple solution of attaching the descent stage directly ON TOP of the rover. What is the problem with this Viking-like approach? After the landing you simply blow a few pyrotechnics and dump the tanks and nozzles of the descent stage on the ground... and drive away. There is no problem of 'disturbing' the landingsite with exhaust fumes because you're not staying there anyway. And with the descent stage and rover firmly connected into a single machine during landing you have complete control over it. Or, put in other words, what is the big advantage of the skycrane over such a simple solution?
I know I'm missing something here... but what is it? |
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Jul 6 2005, 12:01 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 290 Joined: 26-March 04 From: Edam, The Netherlands Member No.: 65 |
QUOTE (Cugel @ Jul 1 2005, 02:59 PM) Um, well, maybe you forget about the fact that it is not just dumping nozzles and tanks....it's the whole descend stage you have to get rid of. You can't just bolt tanks and nozzles to a delicate rover with it's fragile mobility system hanging under, exposing it to an impact that cannot be controled the way it can be controled on a tether. It even makes sense to let the rover down under a sky-crane AND deliver it to the surface on a shock absorbing platform. Or at least: you have to make the rocker-bogie more rigid to withstand the impact to prevent the wheels to end up besides the rover instead of right under. A temporarily inforced construction that connects the wheels to the chassis with pyros might be a solution as well. You first need to hover to (almost) a complete stop, then lower it gently to the surface, then let the crane fly elsewhere. |
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