Posted 02.16.2007 at 2:45 pm
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Of course you hope it never happens, but if you're going to escape from an exploding rocket just in time, you might as well have a good time doing it. NASA is looking at a few different options for how to get astronauts out of future spacecraft in an emergency, from roller coasters to slippery tubes, and most of them seem like pretty enjoyable rides.
The whole time I read this article in the magazine I was thinking space shuttle - boring! But I totally forgot about Project Constellation, the post-shuttle program to create a fleet of next-generation space craft for all sorts of crazy space missions. I spoke with Kelly Humphries at the Johnson Space Center about NASA's plans for the "Emergency Egress System," and he gave me the lowdown on some of the other features of the Constellation program. I was particularly jazzed about his description of the new and improved moon mission strategy. Believe me, when you actually live on the moon it's easy to get a little jaded about this stuff. But multiple space modules docking in Earth's orbit and then blasting out to the moon? Now I'm all excited about space again. Go space!
—Jonathan Coulton
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When secounds count waiting for the last person to board the coaster could mean life or death for all! There should be an individual system for each member to escape allowing the maximum safety margin. The slide may be slower but could allow most of the crew to escape, or distance themselves, before a disaster could take them all.
They could also have considered individual paragliders, they would afford individuality, safe landings, and distance.
In the Marines we trained in Korea with the ROK Marines at their mountain warfare training area. They had what we called the slide for life. Basically it was a steel cable with a pulley that we slid from one mountaintop to the next. That was very simple, effective, wouldnt cost much, and very fast. The crew could just walk up, hook one snap link, jump, and be clear of danger in about 5 secounds!
Kelly Humpries was lying. They chose the rollercoaster months ago.
The shots show the escape vehicle going parallel to the launch vehicle. It would seem from an engineering and safety standpoint, that it should be perpendicular and shieded by the launch gantry. The gantry should also be shielded more heavily against blasts. The vehicles should be 'blast-shot' like ejection seats. There is no time to wait for gravity!
Today's news says the Shuttle fuel tank foam was damaged by hail. I'm no scientist, but shouldn't it be shielded by fiberglass, carbon fiber, or thin steel? That would protect it from hail, woodpeckers, and the peel-off that kills people. What does it take to wise-up? 20 people dead? $200 million in cost?
I am extremely angry as a human, a father, and lastly as a taxpayer.
The shots show the escape vehicle going parallel to the launch vehicle. It would seem from an engineering and safety standpoint, that it should be perpendicular and shieded by the launch gantry. The gantry should also be shielded more heavily against blasts. The vehicles should be 'blast-shot' like ejection seats. There is no time to wait for gravity!
Today's news says the Shuttle fuel tank foam was damaged by hail. I'm no scientist, but shouldn't it be shielded by fiberglass, carbon fiber, or thin steel? That would protect it from hail, woodpeckers, and the peel-off that kills people. What does it take to wise-up? 20 people dead? $200 million in cost?
I am extremely angry as a human, a father, and lastly as a taxpayer.