tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post2019113501773989496..comments2023-11-03T04:29:29.498-04:00Comments on Paleo-Future: Wernher von Braun's Space Shuttle (1950s)Matt Novakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09360406896692501416noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-18056430482517407232007-11-25T01:35:00.000-05:002007-11-25T01:35:00.000-05:00Von Braun's space shuttle is not more advanced tha...Von Braun's space shuttle is not more advanced that what NASA has today. Once the space shuttle orbital stack has accelerated beyond a few hundred miles per hour, you're correct in your assertion that "the astronauts just die in case something happens." Ejecting at high speed within the atmosphere would be immediately fatal. This is the reason that the shuttle orbiter was built without ejection seats - on ascent the space shuttle is only in a position for them to be useful for a few seconds. <BR/><BR/>If something goes wrong that doesn't immediately destroy the orbiter (such as the challenger disaster) the crew has a much better chance of survival by staying with the orbiter and following one of the several abort routines that have been prepared.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-40977386771543836902007-11-20T09:55:00.000-05:002007-11-20T09:55:00.000-05:00Couldn't these also be used as orbital drop-pods?T...<I>Couldn't these also be used as orbital drop-pods?</I><BR/><BR/>That's pretty close to what Robert Heinlein predicted in Starship Troopers (book)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-73251336219271210272007-11-20T03:00:00.000-05:002007-11-20T03:00:00.000-05:00Couldn't these also be used as orbital drop-pods? ...Couldn't these also be used as orbital drop-pods? <BR/><BR/>Or even dropped from planes like bombs, to protect paratroopers from AA gunfire?<BR/><BR/>If you could make them quick-deploy rather the quick close (the solider needs to get out quickly, he has plenty of time to be sealed in before the mission) they would be militarily useful. Like explosive bolts or something, you'd need to be out of it almost as soon as you hit the ground..https://www.blogger.com/profile/12127308959156527284noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-62285506051363330382007-11-19T21:19:00.000-05:002007-11-19T21:19:00.000-05:00If there was a sudden explosion, like with Challe...If there was a sudden explosion, like with Challenger, then they'd all probably die as well since they would be sitting on all those additional explosives and their ejection rails would surely be bent. That is, if they even have time to shut their enclosures. <BR/><BR/>Von Braun's first cutaway looks like a B-25 cross section.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3904461976821332291.post-35517026859595903762007-11-19T12:16:00.000-05:002007-11-19T12:16:00.000-05:00That means that von Braun's space shuttle from 195...That means that von Braun's space shuttle from 1950s is more advanced that what the nasa has today? (today the astranauts just die in case something happens)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com