Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Design of Next-Gen NASA Rocket Showing Flaws

Posted by Zonk on from the back-to-the-drawing-board dept.

caffiend666 writes "According to an AP news article, NASA engineers are concerned about the design for the new rocket meant to replace the shuttle. Work on the project has revealed that the first few minutes of flight could see 'violent shaking', a serious flaw that might destroy the craft soon after launch. 'NASA officials hope to have a plan for fixing the design as early as March, and they do not expect it to delay the goal of returning astronauts to the moon by 2020. The shaking problem, which is common to solid rocket boosters, involves pulses of added acceleration caused by gas vortices in the rocket similar to the wake that develops behind a fast-moving boat.'

4 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Nasa by okinawa_hdr · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    With all of the funding they have gotten, I am just wondering what the ROI for their endeavors is.

    --
    okinawa japan
  2. Solution... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Send 'em up on Russian rockets. The rooskies seem to know what they are doing.

  3. It could be worse... by Lost+Penguin · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    At least it's "Shaken"and not "stirred"....

    --
    I am the unwilling control for my Origin.
  4. License Russian technology by Tillmann · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It's simple and it works!