06-30-2014, 04:13 AM
This was a test of the next proposed Mars landing system.
You will all recall, the two previous Mars landing systems. The Opportunity rovers were landed inside bouncing balloons. The balloon bounced until it stopped, then deflated to release the rover. The Curiousity rover used a sky-crane landing system. The lander vehicle lowered the rover on a cable until it touched surface, then disconnected and rocketed out to self destruct.
Both of these methods only allow fairly lightweight payload landings. The human landing is going to require much, much larger landing payloads.
There is a big debate going on. NASA, partly under direction from the President, has set human landing on Mars as their next, and almost only, goal. Several space pioneers are seeing the Moon as the next step to deep space. No matter what, there is the need to make many low Earth orbit (LEO) launches and landings. The Shuttle was supposed to address this but it ended up costing $500 million (half a billion) per flight to take 25,000 kg into LEO. This was about $10,000 per pound while the Russians can do the same with more for about $6,000 per pound. (They are charging the US $71 million per seat. Take a 200 lb astronaut and the Russians are charging the US $355,000 per pound).
SpaceX Dragon Heavy will put 53 kg into LEO for a launch cost of $100 million. SpaceX is putting recoverable payload into LEO for $855 per pound. 2014 was the year commercial space travel began.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
You will all recall, the two previous Mars landing systems. The Opportunity rovers were landed inside bouncing balloons. The balloon bounced until it stopped, then deflated to release the rover. The Curiousity rover used a sky-crane landing system. The lander vehicle lowered the rover on a cable until it touched surface, then disconnected and rocketed out to self destruct.
Both of these methods only allow fairly lightweight payload landings. The human landing is going to require much, much larger landing payloads.
There is a big debate going on. NASA, partly under direction from the President, has set human landing on Mars as their next, and almost only, goal. Several space pioneers are seeing the Moon as the next step to deep space. No matter what, there is the need to make many low Earth orbit (LEO) launches and landings. The Shuttle was supposed to address this but it ended up costing $500 million (half a billion) per flight to take 25,000 kg into LEO. This was about $10,000 per pound while the Russians can do the same with more for about $6,000 per pound. (They are charging the US $71 million per seat. Take a 200 lb astronaut and the Russians are charging the US $355,000 per pound).
SpaceX Dragon Heavy will put 53 kg into LEO for a launch cost of $100 million. SpaceX is putting recoverable payload into LEO for $855 per pound. 2014 was the year commercial space travel began.
"This island Hawaii on this island Earth"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*