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Sophisticated Balloons Could Help Steer Spacecraft

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the 51%-of-turns-are-right dept.

coondoggie writes "Getting spacecraft traveling at hypersonic speeds to slow down and land or achieve a particular orbit on a dime is no easy feat. But researchers are developing a tool that will let engineers model and ultimately build advanced flight control systems that meld balloon and parachute technologies known as a ballute (BALLoon-parachUTE). Basically a ballute is a large, inflatable device that takes advantage of atmospheric drag to decelerate and capture a spacecraft into orbit around a planet, according to NASA who is funding Global Aerospace to build such a tool."

9 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Caution: Humans at work by starglider29a · · Score: 1, Funny

    This would be a very efficient way to put a satellite into a nice, 100 mile high orbit. DOH! 100 kilometers! WHATEVER!

  2. Reminds me of 2010... by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 3, Funny

    I just hope that the life of NASA folks is not becoming obsessively balloonic.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  3. So many options by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    advanced flight control systems that meld balloon and parachute technologies known as a ballute (BALLoon-parachUTE).

    I'd have called it Paraloon.

    Or possibly Ballachute.

    "Ballachute! I choose you!"

    Yep. It works.

  4. In next weeks news.... by koterica · · Score: 3, Funny

    North Korea is developing long range "Communications Darts". These are not in any way intended for use as weapons.

  5. Re:Colbert by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    I officially think that the folks at NASA are a bunch of jerks for not respecting the results of their ISS node naming contest. :-(

    Indeed.

    It kills our best chance of making our first contact with a ship called "Skullfuck Soulshitter".

  6. Ballute jokes by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 3, Funny

    My other car is a ballute.

    Oh yeah? well my new cadillac is a ballute de ville.

    yo momma's so fat, when she jumps out of an airplane, she has to use a ballute.

    I would write more, but my computer's about to crash, so I have to reballute.

    --
    stuff |
  7. Re:Typo in summary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    I stand corrected. I didn't know that word, and apparently had too much faith in my english skills to look it up in a dictionary.

  8. I know chicks with large "sophisticated balloons" by SensitiveMale · · Score: 4, Funny

    steer my eyes straight to their racks.

  9. Re:MAGIC BALLOONS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Atmospheric drag? It sure is going to be cool when they come out with a big balloon, covered in multi-inch thick ceramic tiles for heat dispersion.

    You seem to know an awful lot about this. Are you some sort of Atmospheric drag queen?