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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."

2 of 174 comments (clear)

  1. Additional Report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Rob Malda (also known as CmdrTaco) has some more information from his first hand report at the National Spacebuilders and Tester's Guild (NSTG) in his online blogging system.

    It turns out that inflatable technologies are really good for keeping costs down while keeping safety number one. You really should read the report over here

  2. Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Why? Is Cmdr Taco's website all that bad? I know he isn't good on color schemes, but please!