Comments on: Blue Origin reflies and lands New Shepard again

By: Calvin Dodge

Calvin Dodge — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 15:37:41 +0000

They said they replaced the parachutes. As only the capsule uses parachutes, I’m pretty sure they used the same capsule.

By: Blair Ivey

Blair Ivey — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 07:55:54 +0000

“Our Monte Carlo sims of New Shepard landings show this new strategy increases margins, improving the vehicle’s ability to reject disturbances created by low-altitude winds.”

Who says math isn’t useful? I became very familiar with Monte Carlo sims during my statistical studies; at one time having to write an Excel program for the method. Always nice to see classroom knowledge in the real world.

(And for those who would argue Excel is an application, I’d say that it’s really a programming environment.)

By: pzatchok

pzatchok — Sun, 24 Jan 2016 04:39:40 +0000

I wonder how hard it would be to launch a second stage off of one of their larger first stages not yet constructed?

Would they be able to use a second stage to achieve a real orbit? Possibly to the ISS.
Maybe just as an emergency shipment system. Something real real cheap and disposable. Might not even have a docking ring to keep costs down.
They would have to go outside and unload it. Use the stations arm to hold it in place close to the pressure door.

By: Rodney

Rodney — Sat, 23 Jan 2016 21:06:25 +0000

As I understand their configuration, at some time, they’re going to have a capsule pseudo “on pad” abort test and a capsule max q abort test. After that, test pilot flights