17 July 2012
Dare Mighty Things
Posted by Dan Satterfield
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Dan Satterfield has worked as an on air meteorologist for 32 years in Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama. Forecasting weather is Dan's job, but all of Earth Science is his passion. This journal is where Dan writes about things he has too little time for on air. Dan blogs about peer-reviewed Earth science for Junior High level audiences and up.
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Wow, I actually had no idea before now of the complexity of this mission’s landing. I’m quite familiar with Spirit and Opportunity’s landings, but this is something else! Very interested to see the Sky Crane work in a few weeks.
As always, thanks for sharing, Dan!
-John Burger
Huntsville, AL
One of the engineers that helped develop this system came to our university and gave a talk. According to him, this method is actually much simpler that the one used with Opy and Spirit. The models give a much higher percent of success and the physics involved are much easier.
Interesting! Sometimes the way that looks most complicated ends up having the highest odds of success. Let’s hope it works out that way!
Believe it or not Dan this technique is very similar to the way paratroopers jump in with very heavy equipment in a rucksack. We attack a lowering line from our harness to the ruck and release the ruck about 100 ft off the ground. The lowering line keeps the ruck attacked to us but suspended about 20′ below. It is also similar to the way we heavy drop cargo equipment. We even have a jet pack to slow the payload. It is also similar to the way the Army Sky Crane heavy lift helicopter delivers equipment. My one concern is oscillation, once the NASA version of their Sky Crane lowers the payload. Since there are high winds on the Red Planet I worry most about that. For the Army oscillation can break bones and destroy equipment. Wonder how NASA will dampen any oscillation effects?