Author
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Topic: Design tolerances for the space shuttle wing
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Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 09-23-2013 10:21 AM
How much of a safety factor were the space shuttles' wings designed to withstand on a re-entry? |
Jim Behling Member Posts: 1463 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 09-23-2013 11:20 AM
Manrating standard is 1.4 FS. However, reentry may not be the design case, it is more likely Max q during ascent or buffeting by winds during the landing phase. |
Lou Chinal Member Posts: 1306 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 09-24-2013 09:07 AM
Thanks for the reply Jim. Someone asked me if the shuttle could re-enter from the moon? I am one who is known to readily engage in armchair aerodynamics. I had to say "I'm not sure."While I know it's impossible for the shuttle to get there in the first place, why worry about a re-entry? But the question still haunts me; If the trajectory were shallow enough and the heat pulse planned over a long enough time, would the wings take the loading? |
Hart Sastrowardoyo Member Posts: 3445 From: Toms River, NJ Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 09-24-2013 11:48 AM
Wouldn't it also depend on which orbiter? Weren't the wings of Columbia (and Enterprise) made of different materials than Discovery and Atlantis (and presumably Endeavour?) |
Jim Behling Member Posts: 1463 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
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posted 09-24-2013 05:15 PM
quote: Originally posted by Lou Chinal: If the trajectory were shallow enough and the heat pulse planned over a long enough time, would the wings take the loading?
The issue is TPS and not structural, I believe the dynamic pressure isn't that high. |
GACspaceguy Member Posts: 2475 From: Guyton, GA Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 09-24-2013 06:50 PM
Well if you can put the orbiter around the moon certainly you can put it back into LEO for a normal reentry. You would have to get it into LEO to allow for weather issues at the various landing facilities. |