quote:

Originally posted by fischtown7:
Capsule does not reenter the atmosphere at a high enough

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Originally posted by Lefty Sig:

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Originally posted by sigmonkey:

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Originally posted by radioman:

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Originally posted by benny6:
Why wasn't the capsule charred like the Space-X capsules are on re-entry?

I think because apogee was only 65 miles, and to compare, the shuttle went to like 250 miles and was going pretty fast when it hit the atmosphere.

not 100% certain, but I think that's the answer. SOmeone correct me if that's not right.

To get charring, you need friction.

Orbit insertion and de-orbit occur in the 17,000 MPH range.

Going up and back down in a parabolic arc of only 65 miles, does not provide enough velocity to achieve significant aerodynamic heating.

As someone else mentioned, it's an expensive E ticket ride.

A parabolic flight path will result in "weightlessness" during the descent even if you are not in space. That's how real astronauts train for space walks - inside cargo planes with padded interiors on parabolic flight paths.

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Originally posted by Lefty Sig:...
So how fast exactly did this thing go at the top of the parabola?...

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Originally posted by a1abdj:

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A parabolic flight path will result in "weightlessness" during the descent even if you are not in space. That's how real astronauts train for space walks - inside cargo planes with padded interiors on parabolic flight paths.

Indeed. Behold the astronaut musical group, OK Go.

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