NASA, ESA Join On Jovian Moons Mission

See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...&channel=space

On Feb 18, 8:48*pm, wrote:
See:

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gener...s/JOVE021809.x....

Perhaps this time they’ll get it right. Apparently our Ames Research
Center has this enormous zero gravity and full vacuum test simulator
environment, and yet our best fly-by-rocket prototype lander still
offers no specifications nor any mention of having to use one hell of
a flight control computer, plus momentum reaction wheels.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_11712164
“Over and over in recent weeks, in a concrete building deep in the
Ames complex, some of NASA's best pilots have been landing — and
frequently crashing — on the moon, painstakingly logging data with
each descent on the Vertical Motion Simulator, or VMS. The information
they are collecting will help determine everything from the amount of
thrust the lander's engine will have, to the design and function of
the cockpit instruments.”

“The cabin of the motion simulator moves through 60 feet of vertical
and 40 feet of horizontal space within its 10-story bay. Apollo
astronauts Charlie Duke, Harrison Schmitt and Rusty Schweickart told
the Ames engineers that the simulator's experience of landing on the
moon felt like the real thing.”

“the real thing” ??? of wearing a moonsuit in a test vacuum and the
near zero gravity of falling towards the physically dark surface of
our moon???

~ BG