The article was informative, did not know the actual touchdown speed and descent rate. The precision required for the flare may exceed what a human pilot could perform consistently. Ironically the Shuttle autoland system was never tested in actual flight. Although the astronauts were willing to try it later in the program, management never quite gave the OK. The selection of the Dreamchaser for cargo will provide adequate opportunity for people to get used to the idea of the automated landing, though of course the X-37 has demonstrated this as well.
Quote from: vulture4 on 08/03/2016 06:03 pmThe article was informative, did not know the actual touchdown speed and descent rate. The precision required for the flare may exceed what a human pilot could perform consistently. Ironically the Shuttle autoland system was never tested in actual flight. Although the astronauts were willing to try it later in the program, management never quite gave the OK. The selection of the Dreamchaser for cargo will provide adequate opportunity for people to get used to the idea of the automated landing, though of course the X-37 has demonstrated this as well.That is one of the positives of cargo Dream Chaser. The original crewed DC needed a pilot to land whereas the cargo DC obviously has automated landing. I didn't know that Shuttle had autoland. Interesting.