Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!cornell!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!eder
From: eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Heavy Lift Capacity Boosters
Summary: SSME land recovery
Message-ID: <2310@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: 5 Oct 88 22:57:41 GMT
References: <677@eplrx7.UUCP> <2240@ssc-vax.UUCP> <1402@viper.Lynx.MN.Org> <6936@ihlpl.ATT.COM>
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Corp., Seattle WA
Lines: 35

In article <6936@ihlpl.ATT.COM>, knudsen@ihlpl.ATT.COM (Knudsen) writes:
> In article <2248@ssc-vax.UUCP>, eder@ssc-vax.UUCP (Dani Eder) writes:
> > The SSMEs are packaged in a recoverable pod which comes down on
> > parachutes.
> 
> Good idea.  But don't the SSMEs go into orbit?
> Does their pod need both retro-rockets and an ablative heat shield
> to re-enter safely before deploying the chutes?
> Also, aren't the complex liquid engines more easily damaged
> by the splashdown and salt water corrosion while they're
> waiting to be fished out of the water?
> 
Yes, yes, and no, we would land on land, using airbags to cusion the last
few feet.  The recovery pod weights enough that winds don't significantly
perterb the reentry.  So a landing on land can be done within about a 
one mile cirle landing area.
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-- 
Dani Eder / Boeing / Space Station Program / uw-beaver!ssc-vax!eder
(205)464-4150(w) (205)461-7801(h) 1075 Dockside Drive #905 Huntsville, 
AL 35824  34 40 N latitude 86 40 W longitude +100m altitude, Earth