Quote from: Jim on 09/04/2013 03:37 amVoyager, no momentum wheelsSpin stabilized, aren't they? - Ed Kyle
Voyager, no momentum wheels
Quote from: edkyle99 on 09/04/2013 04:01 amQuote from: Jim on 09/04/2013 03:37 amVoyager, no momentum wheelsSpin stabilized, aren't they? - Ed Kylethe Pioneers were, not the Voyagers.
To save space and fuel, could a mixed system of RCS + ion engines be used? RCS would do fast corrections while ion engines would do over the time attitude compensation, saving fuel.
It saves space on hydrazine RCS tank size, if the mission is long enough.
Quote from: IRobot on 09/04/2013 12:29 pmIt saves space on hydrazine RCS tank size, if the mission is long enough.Which would be taken up by the ion propellant and systems, for no net savings. You asked a question and the answer is no. Ion systems are used for velocity adjustments and not attitude control.
Ion or arcjet? Not that either could replace chemical RCS thrusters on Orion.
So basicly we have determined that manned Dragon would need an unknown additional amount of RCS prop for longer duration BEO like missions.