Is there a good reason to separate the two for a suborbital system (other than emergency abort?), especially considering that the booster will propulsively land? Even though turnaround time likely isn't going to be of the essence, it still seems like post-landing inspection, prepping, and mating of the capsule to the booster is a bit unnecessary. Maybe it just seems more "rocket ship like".
The more-gentle capsule descent also increases the length of the experience for the passengers, which can't be bad. The booster has landed before the capsule's even deployed its chutes.
How about activating the capsule LAS just after MECO? We've seen the booster survive an abort.I ask that because then the capsule can reach a higher apogee.
Quote from: ZachS09 on 10/08/2016 06:25 pmHow about activating the capsule LAS just after MECO? We've seen the booster survive an abort.I ask that because then the capsule can reach a higher apogee.An abort is high G, and not exactly the calmest event. It's not exactly something you'd want to do in a situation where it wasn't necessary
At this stage Blue trying to make safest reusable suborbital system they can. It may not be perfect system but it is a good working system and just about ready to carry passengers which is more than can be said for competition.As saying goes "The Perfect Is the Enemy of the Good".
It's an ambitious first step out of the capsule when it's still on top of the booster.
Also, the top of the New Shepard booster is a ring fin. Keeping the capsule on it would reduce the stability of the rocket during descent. http://www.damngeeky.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Chaotic-moon-Biometric-Tattoo_2.png
Quote from: rayleighscatter on 10/11/2016 06:13 pmIt's an ambitious first step out of the capsule when it's still on top of the booster.Plus a lot of new safety issues with people siting for a long while on top of a landed booster waiting for somebody to get them down. The engine is hot, there's still some propellant in the tanks. The booster would have to go through a safing process before you got the passengers out.As opposed to the current process where they could just climb out themselves into the desert as soon as they land.