Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Maybe the Roton would have been a favorable configuration

Actually, any helicopter manufacturer could make an autorotating rotor for Orion

Rotary Rocket is defunct. And the rotor wouldn't be rocket powered anyway (although it's obviously possible), so any helicopter manufacturer would do.... there's lots of brands in the USA:

American Eurocopter
Bell Helicopter
Bell/Agusta Aerospace Company
Boeing Rotorcraft Systems
Brantly International
Enstrom Helicopter Corporation
Higgins Industries
Hiller Aircraft
Kaman Aircraft
MD Helicopters
Piasecki Helicopter
Robinson Helicopter
RotorWay International
Schweizer Aircraft
Sikorsky Aircraft

Autorotating helicopter blades made of metal with a ceramic coating would easily survive descent through a cloud of 4000 deg F. burning rocket propellant IMO. At least it would stand a helluva better chance of surviving than a nylon parachute.

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