Curiosity attitude control ...

A wiki quote...

"This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to
"fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted
landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of
mass is offset from the axial centerline that results in an off-center
trim angle in atmospheric flight. This is accomplished by a series of
ejectable ballast masses consisting of two 165 pound (75 kg) tungsten
weights that are jettisoned minutes before atmospheric entry.[106] The
lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System
(RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N (110 lbf) of thrust per
pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift
allows the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer
toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle
must eject more ballast mass consisting of six 55 lb (25 kg) tungsten
weights such that the center of gravity offset is removed.[106]"

330# of W tossed out of Curiosity as it lands.

- $100,000 / #

- the 1 Martian microbe in the neighborhood gets squished.

- Imagine some alien probe landing on Earth tossing bricks
out to land, is that hi-tech?
- or maybe a bomber.
Ken

Ken S. Tucker wrote:
A wiki quote...

"This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to
"fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted
landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of
mass is offset from the axial centerline that results in an off-center
trim angle in atmospheric flight. This is accomplished by a series of
ejectable ballast masses consisting of two 165 pound (75 kg) tungsten
weights that are jettisoned minutes before atmospheric entry.[106] The
lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System
(RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N (110 lbf) of thrust per
pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift
allows the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer
toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle
must eject more ballast mass consisting of six 55 lb (25 kg) tungsten
weights such that the center of gravity offset is removed.[106]"

330# of W tossed out of Curiosity as it lands.

- $100,000 / #

- the 1 Martian microbe in the neighborhood gets squished.

- Imagine some alien probe landing on Earth tossing bricks
out to land, is that hi-tech?
- or maybe a bomber.
Ken

Let's hope today is the 1st day the US drops W-bombs on Mars.
Ken

In sci.space.history message , Sat, 4 Aug
2012 09:05:04, Ken S. Tucker posted:


330# of W tossed out of Curiosity as it lands.

- $100,000 / #

- the 1 Martian microbe in the neighborhood gets squished.

- Imagine some alien probe landing on Earth tossing bricks
out to land, is that hi-tech?
- or maybe a bomber.

On the market, Tungsten is about $20 per imperial pound. Perhaps your
figure is a special U.S. Government rate, or F.O.B. Mars.

--
(c) John Stockton, near London. Mail
Web http://www.merlyn.demon.co.uk/ - FAQish topics, acronyms, and links.
Correct = 4-line sig. separator as above, a line precisely "-- " (RFC5536/7)
Do not Mail News to me. Before a reply, quote with "" or " " (RFC5536/7)

On Aug 5, 12:45*pm, "Ken S. Tucker" wrote:
Ken S. Tucker wrote:
A wiki quote...

"This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to
"fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted
landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of
mass is offset from the axial centerline that results in an off-center
trim angle in atmospheric flight. This is accomplished by a series of
ejectable ballast masses consisting of two 165 pound (75 kg) tungsten
weights that are jettisoned minutes before atmospheric entry.[106] The
lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System
(RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N (110 lbf) of thrust per
pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift
allows the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer
toward the landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle
must eject more ballast mass consisting of six 55 lb (25 kg) tungsten
weights such that the center of gravity offset is removed.[106]"

330# of W tossed out of Curiosity as it lands.

- $100,000 / #

- the 1 Martian microbe in the neighborhood gets squished.

- Imagine some alien probe landing on Earth tossing bricks
out to land, is that hi-tech?
- or maybe a bomber.
Ken

Let's hope today is the 1st day the US drops W-bombs on Mars.
Ken

They still can't demonstrate their Apollo era fly-by-rocket landers
that operated w/o momentum reaction gyros, and otherwise had payload
and fuel to spare.

http://groups.google.com/groups/search
http://translate.google.com/#
Brad Guth,Brad_Guth,Brad.Guth,BradGuth,BG,Guth Usenet/”Guth Venus”

On the market, Tungsten is about $20 per imperial pound. *Perhaps your
figure is a special U.S. Government rate, or F.O.B. Mars.

FOB Mars, based on the cost to orbit by pound........

for just ballast

"Ken S. Tucker" wrote in message
...
Ken S. Tucker wrote:
A wiki quote...

"This guidance uses the lifting force experienced by the aeroshell to
"fly out" any detected error in range and thereby arrive at the targeted
landing site. In order for the aeroshell to have lift, its center of mass
is offset from the axial centerline that results in an off-center trim
angle in atmospheric flight. This is accomplished by a series of
ejectable ballast masses consisting of two 165 pound (75 kg) tungsten
weights that are jettisoned minutes before atmospheric entry.[106] The
lift vector is controlled by four sets of two Reaction Control System
(RCS) thrusters that produce approximately 500 N (110 lbf) of thrust per
pair. This ability to change the pointing of the direction of lift allows
the spacecraft to react to the ambient environment, and steer toward the
landing zone. Prior to parachute deployment the entry vehicle must eject
more ballast mass consisting of six 55 lb (25 kg) tungsten weights such
that the center of gravity offset is removed.[106]"

330# of W tossed out of Curiosity as it lands.

- $100,000 / #

- the 1 Martian microbe in the neighborhood gets squished.

- Imagine some alien probe landing on Earth tossing bricks
out to land, is that hi-tech?
- or maybe a bomber.
Ken

Let's hope today is the 1st day the US drops W-bombs on Mars.
Ken


Curiosity is now safely down. The footage from JPL showed that the flight
controllers were quite happy about it...
--
Gordon Davie
Edinburgh, Scotland

"Slipped the surly bonds of Earth...to touch the face of God."

On 6/08/2012 8:29 AM, Brad Guth wrote:

They still can't demonstrate their Apollo era fly-by-rocket landers
that operated w/o momentum reaction gyros, and otherwise had payload
and fuel to spare.

Umm... they had inertial navigation systems; they contained gyros.