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A comment on SpaceX and Boeing Still Need a Parachute That Always Works.

Re:SpaceX and Boeing Still Need a Parachute That Always Works by diego on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @12:36PM (#21464833)
It sounds like the old-style parachute is not the best solution for this problem, but I'm sure they must have come up with other ideas and ruled them out. Why not hundreds of small parachutes? Why not wings or rotors to stabilize it? I'm curious to know.
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Re:SpaceX and Boeing Still Need a Parachute That Always Works by SliderUp on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @01:01PM (#21465086)
Anything non-fabric would weigh too much. Many smaller parachutes means many more lines, which would weigh too much.

The rocket equation is cruel.

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Re:SpaceX and Boeing Still Need a Parachute That Always Works by 24gttghh on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @04:07PM (#21467301)
Smaller parachutes would be larger surface area compared to one large chute also, right? More weight there.
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Re:SpaceX and Boeing Still Need a Parachute That Always Works by jccooper on Wednesday November 06, 2019 @01:02PM (#21465101)
Parachutes were supposed to be easy because they have plenty of heritage and other users. And in spite of the problems they likely still are easier. Any other system would need even more testing.
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