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Inflatable Spaceship Ready for Test

Posted by michael on from the please-leave-all-sharp-objects-at-home dept.

colonist writes "Nature reports that an inflatable re-entry vehicle could one day carry astronauts or robots to the surface of Earth or Mars. The heat shield (that can withstand 900 C) and the parachute are inflatable. The advantage of inflatable structures is weight: a 130 kg vehicle can carry about 200 kg of cargo back from the space station. The vehicle is made by Return and Rescue Space Systems."

7 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. MOD PARENT DOWN by brainstyle · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    You really don't want to follow those links.

    --
    "Why can't everyone just be straight with me?"
    "Because we live in a bendy world, dear."
    1. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN by ImaLamer · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      You really don't want to follow those links.

      Why? WHY! You make me click them with warnings like that...

      I just can't help it.

      --
      Get your Unix fortune now!
  2. Re:Paging Dr. Schlock... by WhiteDragon · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    schlockmercenary is a great comic, but Dr. Schlock is still a very froody character from sluggy :-)

    --
    Did you mount a military-grade, variable-focus MASER on an unlicensed artificial intelligence?
  3. Inflatable Parachute by celerityfm · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    WTF? Did I read that right? an inflatable parachute? How does that differ from normal parachutes that fill with air in order to be used? :P

    --
    ...unfortunately no one can be told what The Mat^H^H^HGoatse is...they must experience it for themselves...
    1. Re:Inflatable Parachute by celerityfm · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      Excellent replies! Thank you, I hand't thought of that angle.

      And btw, props to the guy who modded my post as off-topic. I think people shouldn't be allowed to spend their mod points unless they actually RTFA.

      am i rite? :P

      --
      ...unfortunately no one can be told what The Mat^H^H^HGoatse is...they must experience it for themselves...
  4. Finally! by eBayDoug · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    We have a use for the gov't surplus of Jenna Jameson Dolls.

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    Learn About Outsourcing. http://www.pioutsource.com
  5. Bob's Big Boy meets... by davidsyes · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Real Doll in orbit...

    for some Zero-G fun... For increased frictive pleasure, there'll be no ablative armor.

    Contoured surfaces are flexible and conformal for maximum fit and gain.

    For command and control, "the eyese have it".

    --
    Previously: "Linux... Toward the Sunrise..." Now: "Linux... Toward the-- No, now, part of Every Sunrise"