"Derek Lyons" wrote in message
...
"Jeff Findley" wrote:
Interesting. Real testing being done with capsule applications. This
seems
to indicate that Lockheed Martin seriously believes that the CEV will be
a
capsule based design, not some winged or lifting body design that NASA
was
in love with from the late 60's through the 90's.

Either that, or they are looking ahead to getting into the
Tourism/CATS race if it takes off, either as airframe providers or
technology licenses.

Perhaps. At the very least, their lawyers could make the company some money
by suing the startups for every piece of technology in them that vaguely
resembles a Lockheed Martin patent. Even if the suits eventually fail, they
will have done considerable damage in terms of CATS.

How many times has the discussion come up in these groups where capsules
are
"put down" due to their harsh landing mode (with previous capsules used
to
"prove" that this is so). Using this dual airbag technology seems to
eliminate this problem.

We don't know how harsh a landing this technology provides.

While this is true (press releases can easily be misleading), if it is going
to be applied to Tourism/CATS, I'd suggest that the tourism market's
requirements for a "gentle" landing are going to be less severe than the
"new NASA's". People will put up with quite a bit of punishment in the name
of "adventure". I live close to a "theme park" and routinely see people
show up at work with bruises on their arms and legs which they blame on
their recent visit to that theme park.

Jeff
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