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NASA Installing Shocks On Ares
caffiend666 writes "In order to abate the massive vibration issues of their new Ares I spacecraft, NASA is installing shock absorbers. 'The plan is to install 16 canisters in the bottom of the rocket with 100-pound weights attached to springs. Battery-powered motors will move the weights up and down to stop vibrations. Those are essentially remote-controlled shock absorbers, said Garry Lyles, who headed the team of NASA engineers tackling the shaking problem.' So, when the spaceship is a rocking, don't come a knocking?"
Chrome rims and a spoiler. We might not be alone, so dress to impress!
Btw, not 16, "a 17th shock absorber will be a ring of weights and springs near the middle of the rocket".
Might not have a cannister though, or a switch ; )
"Kill 'em all and let Root sort 'em out"
In related news, did anyone notice the Oprah ad below the story (down on the left side):
"LOSE WEIGHT IN 2008! THE BESTLIFE DIET - JOIN NOW!"
Talk about context-sensitive advertising ;-))
Yeah, where do you find living Nazi-Era German Rocket Scientists these days?
Tsukasa: All I really want, is to be left alone...
It's been considered. Leave the first stage on the ground. Launch with a cannon or railgun to get the initial acceleration instead of putting the engine and fuel on board. Non-living cargo can take considerable acceleration. You just need a longer railgun if you want to launch pesky humans.
As for this system, it seems like what they are doing is basically the same as noise-canceling headphones. Maybe they need a couple of giant bass speakers. Once in space they can switch them over to play techno.
Intron: the portion of DNA which expresses nothing useful.