the only part I can see which could be the heatshield is the back?
and although I do not know what the shockwaves do, if we go for the pressure formula's of bernouiili we see that speed is in it square ( P=1/2 rho v^2 ) so the pressures will be 100 times bigger 10 times higher speeds. seems to me that that would warrant somewhat heavier construction, not to speak of the heatshield. seeing that your unit seems to be near the exact design of that of the B-58 (
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pPsuc9rvU4Y/S ... egress.jpg) I think there is some refining to do.
aren't heat shields quite thick as well, btw?
one question, is this thing circular or egg shaped? the B-58's are egg shaped but I think an heat shield should best be entirely round.
Yes, you found the Thing I drew. Good job, lad.
The heatshield is circular. The capsule is egg shaped.
Hi Kattsun,
The problem I had was, yes, you've drawn a heat shield. You've drawn it with a requirement to drill holes through it to fit the thrusters. This usually impairs the efficient functioning of a heat shield. That was why I asked the question.
As to differences in speed, well, as I stated, the main concern I had was the heat load you're dumping into the pod. That little v-squared in the KE equation means you now have to try and find a home for one hundred times the energy and it's mostly going to be coming at you in the form of heat. The space shuttle manages it with a freon coolant loop, apollo and earlier tended to use ablative coatings and just let bits of the ship burn away on re-entry. What's your solution?
I suggested orbital life pod because I'd figured, with a space navy, you might well have other, functioning, warships in the vicinity able to effect pick-up with minimal delta-v required. Do the ships only deploy solo?
Ad
Obviously there's no room for active coolant, what do you think the solution is? It's not my solution, it's Martin Marietta's. Who knows/cares why they put thrusters on the back? Possibly so the pilot could perform deorbit burns? That seems most sensible. I can't imagine any reason you would send multiple space warships on the same journey, or how you'd manage to perform any sort of rescue with twice the crew weight. That would be a fairly tricky thing to plan for and still have any useable mass leftover. I imagine it would just be more sensible to either have everyone resign to death and shoot themselves, or futilely await rescue in the sole working compartment.
How would they deal with the reentry and having obnoxious thrusters on the back? Who knows? Who cares? Considering EGRESS never went beyond "this is a neat idea" and what someone sketched on a napkin (sounds like Orion, but at least they had a vague idea of what space reentry was like since they'd been to the Moon by now), it's probably hard to figure that out. Maybe you ask the ninety year old engineer who thought of it, provided he isn't dead/senile?
There are better orbital life pods that aren't 400 kg or whatever. Why would you even have maneuvering equipment in any sort of "life pod", that seems counter-intuitive to something that is supposed to expect orbital rescue.
It makes sense, but not for this specific pod, which is much too heavy for the purpose of serving as any sort of "lifeboat". A PRE would be better.
Overall, you're putting too much thought into something that was about as hopeful as LESA or SBS only on a much smaller scale. Seems to be rather typical on this forum.
I can spell it out for you how I imagine EGRESS would have reentered if it helps:
1) Pilot gets inside and closes clamshell.
2) Capsule is spit out of space station by the bottom, square-shaped thruster.
3) Pilot guides capsule on a retrograde burn for reentry, probably guided by some vacuum tube computer or w/e.
4) Thrusters are ejected when reentry burn is completed by the computer, and the capsule aligns itself using the reaction control system on the ends.
5) It reenters the atmosphere, the heatshield being ablated constantly.
6) At a predetermined altitude it ejects the heatshield and opens a parachute.
7) Pilot lands and gets out, takes out flare gun, and signals helicopter.
I hope this is sensible enough for you.