🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1989Jun4.055452.12921@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes:
>In article <486@cybaswan.UUCP> iiit-sh@cybaswan.UUCP (Steve Hosgood) writes:
>>>NASA to test a parafoil system, developed by Pioneer Aerospace, for
>>>precision landings by parachute of launcher components...
>>
>>Wasn't this originally invented by Dr Francis Rogallo in about 1963? ...
>
>If I haven't got the terms mixed up, no, they are not the same thing.

Henry's analysis of the difference is (as usual :-) correct.  Parafoil-
like designs, however, are in use both as kites and as human-carrying
gliders; the latter are popular especially in Europe.  Their advantage
over hang gliders is that the lack of airframe makes them easy to fold
into a backpack and carry; they have a relatively poor glide, however,
and appear to be difficult for humans to flare (and therefore land) safely.

I'd like to advance the idea of Rogallo or parawing vehicles for crew
escape from low earth orbit.  There are several (unlikely) failure modes
which leave the shuttle "stuck" in orbit.  If you thought the Challenger
accident was tough to stomach, imagine the spectre of a shuttle crew
dying in orbit.

Could an escape vehicle consisting of a small solid fuel rocket (for
deceleration burn) and collapsible wing be used in this situation?
After the burn you would be "dropping like a stone" toward incineration
in the atmosphere.  The only solution would be "skipping" off the
atmosphere to lose velocity (an idea proposed as early as WWII).
With a small computerized guidance system, might it be possible to
do this safely?  My knowledge of mach 17 aerodynamics at the edge of
space is, mmm, not quite up to answering this (to say the least).

As people (of whatever nationality) make increasing use of L.E.O.,
seems to me a system for getting them back down in an emergency
will assume increasing importance.  (And guess what?  I didn't
even talk to a patent lawyer before I posted this! :-).

Another ex-hang glider pilot...
-- 
Jeff Berkowitz N6QOM			uunet!sequent!jjb
Sequent Computer Systems		Custom Systems Group