Quote from: Phyto on 10/29/2013 03:13 pmThis has probably been said but I don't know how, other than searching all the posts in this thread to find it. Were a pilot on board, both gear would have been retracted, if possible, Unlikely there would have been the capability to retract the gear. It is unnecessary.And what soft surface is nearby?If a pilot was onboard, the outcome likely wouldn't have been any different
This has probably been said but I don't know how, other than searching all the posts in this thread to find it. Were a pilot on board, both gear would have been retracted, if possible,
Quote from: Jim on 10/29/2013 03:48 pmQuote from: Phyto on 10/29/2013 03:13 pmThis has probably been said but I don't know how, other than searching all the posts in this thread to find it. Were a pilot on board, both gear would have been retracted, if possible, Unlikely there would have been the capability to retract the gear. It is unnecessary.And what soft surface is nearby?If a pilot was onboard, the outcome likely wouldn't have been any differentcan you elaborate ?Not having the option to retract the gear on a piloted vehicle seems strange to me.I agree that the outcome would be the same, meaning a crashed vehicle, but the amount of damage is different when you belly flop or flip over, hard surface or not.
Not having the option to retract the gear on a piloted vehicle seems strange to me.I agree that the outcome would be the same, meaning a crashed vehicle, but the amount of damage is different when you belly flop or flip over, hard surface or not.
Quote from: Jester on 10/29/2013 05:31 pmNot having the option to retract the gear on a piloted vehicle seems strange to me.I agree that the outcome would be the same, meaning a crashed vehicle, but the amount of damage is different when you belly flop or flip over, hard surface or not.There is no point in having a gear retraction mechanism on a vehicle which only gets one attempt at landing. Including one adds weight, complexity and failure points.As for deviating off runway, the lakebed is adjacent to the concrete runway used for this landing. The lakebed MAY provide a slightly softer surface, but remember that Edwards was chosen as a test facility because of the hard-baked surface. Setting down on it would likely result in just as great a level of damage. At any rate, landing a vehicle with the dimensions, stance and touchdown speed like DC with one strut up is a recipe for a flip regardless of surface.
I would call this a successful test flight with an unsuccessful landing gear deploy and roll-out. The flight itself was fine. Better than fine, even.
Not attempting to pat myself on the back (), just want to get something out there that wouldn't look too much like a repeat of other articles already out there.
Not attempting to pat myself on the back ()
Someone made these three screen-caps in sequence, showing the gear deploy (and lack of it):
Right, so because all the media are writing up and publishing their articles on the media event, I'm taking my time and will go for a long article on the details. 1,000 words in and only after 15 percent of the recording, so going to take me hours, but hopefully it will stand out a bit with a full overview. There will also be a second article based on the long-term future.Not attempting to pat myself on the back (), just want to get something out there that wouldn't look too much like a repeat of other articles already out there.
Nothing against Orion, but a hundred years from now the "Capsule design" is going to look primitive.
There is no point in having a gear retraction mechanism on a vehicle which only gets one attempt at landing.
Don’t call it a successful test? Just what do you think a “test” flight is for, to show off perfection? No it is not. A test flight is to use the developed hardware and software in real world conditions specifically to find the bugs (that EVERYBODY knows are there) that slipped thru pre-release testing. That’s what it’s for, and it found a few. Most test flights of anything will have something show up that’s not right. Very few are a picture perfect event. So just to be absolutely clear: This was a successful TEST flight. Yes it was and extreme congratulations to SNC for it. It was a GREAT test flight and they learned some valuable lessons that will be applied to the next TEST flight.Go DreamChaser! Go SNC!
Not sure if it's been mentioned but in the video there was an anomaly with the right gear as well. The tire catches briefly on the inboard landing gear door.