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Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo's Re-entry Tech: the Feather

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-got-to-know-when-to-fold-them dept.

Dutch Gun writes: When most people think about rocket science, they think of the challenge of getting a spacecraft into space. However, the problem of safely re-entering the atmosphere is a daunting challenge as well. Virgin Galactic introduces us to the concept of "the feather," their term for the combination of fixed-wing and capsule based solutions both used by spaceships in the past, and explain how they believe this hybrid approach to be a superior solution. SpaceShipTwo folds its wings in the initial decent, acting a bit like a badminton shuttlecock, when a capsule decent has the most advantages. In the latter part of the decent, the wings are extended, giving the vehicle the advantages of a glider-like landing.

4 of 62 comments (clear)

  1. Was explained much better in Black Sky by NotDrWho · · Score: 4, Informative

    For those interested, the documentary Black Sky is a must-see on explaining how this concept (and SpaceShipOne in general) works.

    --
    SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
  2. Stupid Self-Aggrandizing Press Release by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Branson and Virgin did nothing at all except provide funding after the fact to the actual, certified genius aerodynamist and visionary Burt Rutan.
    Since it is far outside the knowledge domain of /., I will just introduce Rutan to the crowd who might be attracted to the silly clickbait article: Burt has for about
    40 years years been designing outstanding aircraft, some large, most small. He designed for NASA, for Jim Bede, and for thousands of home builders. He pioneered the modern use of canard winds and composite construction. He designed many famous aircraft including SpaceShipOne and its unique tail feathering.

  3. Very nifty, but... by necro81 · · Score: 4, Informative

    The feathering mechanism is very clever and effective, and I'm sure that Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic love getting free advertising on Slashdot. But this concept - the mechanism, the shuttlecock behavior, the passive stabilization - was successfully demonstrated when SpaceShipOne won the X-Prize ... in 2004.

    So please explain, Oh submitter and editors, why are you cluttering up our lives with old news?

  4. Re:Probably not better at orbital speed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    All SpaceshipTwo flights will be sub-orbital.