Author
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Topic: Survivability of Mercury landing on land
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Explorer1 Member Posts: 180 From: Los Angeles, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 12-30-2019 12:43 PM
How survivable was a ground landing in the Mercury capsule? |
Jim Behling Member Posts: 1488 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-30-2019 01:45 PM
Very. The landing bag, deformable material and form fitted couch ensured it. |
Explorer1 Member Posts: 180 From: Los Angeles, CA, USA Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 12-31-2019 03:28 AM
Great point about the landing bag.So a landing of the Mercury capsule on land posed a lesser risk for injury than the Apollo capsule? I would think the Mercury capsule would be worse because it's elongated shape would make it certain that the capsule would fall over and add additional shock to the occupant of the capsule versus the Apollo capsule which was wide at the base and would not tip over on land. But as you noted, the landing would be a factor and perhaps that might prevent the capsule from tipping over. |
Jim Behling Member Posts: 1488 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 12-31-2019 09:11 AM
No, there isn't a lesser risk.Tipping over would be a minor event. The astronaut is strapped in. |
moorouge Member Posts: 2458 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 12-31-2019 05:38 PM
There were some drop tests — the biggest from 20 feet I believe — involving a pig called "Gentle Bess." These would have had some relevance to the ability to survive an emergency recovery on land. |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1332 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 01-23-2020 08:00 AM
While a Mercury landing may have been survivable, it was not desirable. |