Author Topic: Lockheed contract for Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) aeroshell system  (Read 4593 times)

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Offline hyper_snyper

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Cool. 

I wonder if this will be a factor in CEV downselect?  Will NASA care that Lockheed designed the MSL aeroshell?

Offline Jim

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hyper_snyper - 29/3/2006  3:37 PMCool.  

I wonder if this will be a factor in CEV downselect?  Will NASA care that Lockheed designed the MSL aeroshell?

Has no bearing on CEV.  LM has built the aeroshells for Viking, Stardust, Genesis, Pathfinder, Phoenix, and MER. 

Offline Tap-Sa

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Noticed the article mentions sky crane. What's the rationale in it, why not use the proven airbags-bouncing style? Sky crane sure looks more elegant way but also much riskier involving precise control of powered descent, hover and ascent while winching the payload on the surface.

Offline Jim

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Tap-Sa - 30/3/2006  6:35 AMNoticed the article mentions sky crane. What's the rationale in it, why not use the proven airbags-bouncing style? Sky crane sure looks more elegant way but also much riskier involving precise control of powered descent, hover and ascent while winching the payload on the surface.

Air bags have a mass limit.  The MER rovers were near the max.  The skycrane allows the MSL rover to use its wheels as its landing gear.  This will save some mass.

Offline Tap-Sa

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Will MSL have any means to get back up if it tips over during landing? If not, the lateral velocity limits must be pretty tight.

Offline Jim

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Tap-Sa - 30/3/2006  7:17 AMWill MSL have any means to get back up if it tips over during landing? If not, the lateral velocity limits must be pretty tight.
No, but the skycrane has lateral movement capability

Offline Avron

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Jim - 30/3/2006  8:29 AM

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Tap-Sa - 30/3/2006  7:17 AMWill MSL have any means to get back up if it tips over during landing? If not, the lateral velocity limits must be pretty tight.
No, but the skycrane has lateral movement capability

Jim.. did they go for a skid plate or is MSL to land on directly on  the surface?

Offline Jim

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Avron - 30/3/2006  11:22 PM
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Jim - 30/3/2006  8:29 AM
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Tap-Sa - 30/3/2006  7:17 AMWill MSL have any means to get back up if it tips over during landing? If not, the lateral velocity limits must be pretty tight.
No, but the skycrane has lateral movement capability
Jim.. did they go for a skid plate or is MSL to land on directly on  the surface?

Directly on the wheels

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