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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."

2 of 96 comments (clear)

  1. Colbert by toddbu · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Maybe they should hold an Internet naming contest for this new system and then reject the results. I officially think that the folks at NASA are a bunch of jerks for not respecting the results of their ISS node naming contest. :-(

    --
    If you don't want crime to pay, let the government run it.
    1. Re:Colbert by oodaloop · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Let's say they did open more names to write-ins and respect all submissions. Do you really want everything to be named Colbert?

      Future News: "The Colbert shuttle docked at Space Station Colbert earlier today after leaving Lunar Colony Colbert 1. After refitting for supplies, it will re-land on Lunar Colony Colbert 2 tomorrow."

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.