That's what the original article mentioned, anyway.
We need to be positive, but there are some issues. We could "Evolve" from the Viking lander system (rockets) or the Pathfinder/Rover systems, but there are likely several "quantum" steps in the process.
The article tends to dismiss things as failures "because the impact velocity is too high, and the time is too short". The solution, is something that can STEER the lander - a winged "Dynosaur" for Mars? If you point the "final" ballistic trajectory away from the planet, you won't crash, and even an inefficient parachute or thruster combo can save you.
We're heading towards something that has BIG wings, to give us the atmospheric steering needed to make the flight path work out, in a thin (1%) atmosphere...
Not sure if the final let-down would be rocket or parachute, but a bit of lift and drag prior to landing can't be a problem...
Space/Science » in reply to Skycrane will land large payloads
60 tonnes and counting...
The whole thread (33 posts)
- No way to land large fast payloads on Mars
- I still think they should revive the original Project Orion
- re: No way to land large fast payloads on Mars
- If only..
- Quite True Currently
- Falling into Mars.
- Did my reply get deleted?
- Nuclear rockets
- Very interesting!
- If it means a brief stopover in martian parking orbit, before descending, I don't see the problem.