News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on NASA Mars Mission Faces Setback After Heat Shield Cracks Under Pressure. Parent comment

Re:NASA Mars Mission Faces Setback After Heat Shield Cracks ... by jotm on Saturday April 28, 2018 @07:00AM (#16947086)
That doesn't make sense for the size of the current crafts. You'd just end up with a lot of heat on all sides of it instead of only the front, imo
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:NASA Mars Mission Faces Setback After Heat Shield Cracks ... by DoctorOetker on Saturday April 28, 2018 @07:27AM (#16947153)
right the temperature on the back side would be higher than on current craft, but the backside would be able to radiate heat no?

alternative idea:

the solid aborbs heat (cools the shield) to melt, then absorbs heat to warm up and boil, and the boiling gas is used as retro-firing rockets, any decrease in momentum due to the retro-rockets is less future heat absorbed (since the craft is slowing down faster)

think controlled steam explosion

[ Parent | on HN ]