New Video: Why It's HARD to Land on Mars
Added 2017-07-14 14:57:09 +0000 UTCThis video was supported largely by Patrons, so a huge thanks for your support!
Comments
Thanks Rob! I got the info from a tour to JPL with Nathan Strange a few years ago (& my own digging), and then Hoppy Price looked over the script to make sure I didn't screw anything up. In fact, Hoppy told me that Red Dragon is looking into using a low angle approach which is why I mentioned that at the end. I'm curious to know more about why SRP works – that sounds crazy!
Henry Reich
2017-07-17 17:53:13 +0000 UTCGreat
Illuminati Games
2017-07-16 03:25:01 +0000 UTCNice
Kravenar Games
2017-07-15 20:53:51 +0000 UTCHi Henry, Great job! You captured the story very well! I suspect you got most of this from my interviews (if not, can we hire you ?). One minor comment is that at the end you say that another approach is to entry very shallow and try to slow down that way. Unfortunately that doesn't work because you fall to the ground (going fast and at a grazing angle). One alternative you could mention (that is gaining ground) is ditching the parachute and instead firing propellant backwards into the flow while still supersonic (supersonic retro propulsion or SRP). This is the same trick SpaceX uses to slow its lower stage when it flies back to the launch site or onto a barge. Cheers! -Rob Manning
Rob Manning
2017-07-14 23:00:56 +0000 UTC
