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- Mar 23, 2008
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Finally got the chance to test-fly Brian's newest creation!
These skydiver-aerodynamics are _very_ unusual! I guess it will take some time to get the hang of it.
Two observations:
- The mass center looks to be quite aft of the geometric center, approximately at the wing roots. I would estimate, it should be a bit forward. This may be the reason why SpaceX relocated the big batteries to the nose, to use them as trim weights.
- The mass center and the center of aerodynamic pressure seem to be identical in all axes. This leads to the vessel flying aerodynamically stable in any attitude, nose high / nose low, even sideways. There is no righting moment (weather-vane effect).
This makes controlling easier, as there is no moment to fight against. If the mass center is moved forward, this should change automatically. The nose will then try to move in the direction of the flight vector, and the wings (fins, flaps, ...) will have to counteract this tendency. For example, to keep the nose high at 60° the canards must to be more open (spread-out) than the main wings, to balance the righting moment of the hull.
All-in-all a very interesting testbed for a total new way of aerodynamic reentry. And good-looking, as all addons by Brian. Thanks a lot!
These skydiver-aerodynamics are _very_ unusual! I guess it will take some time to get the hang of it.
Two observations:
- The mass center looks to be quite aft of the geometric center, approximately at the wing roots. I would estimate, it should be a bit forward. This may be the reason why SpaceX relocated the big batteries to the nose, to use them as trim weights.
- The mass center and the center of aerodynamic pressure seem to be identical in all axes. This leads to the vessel flying aerodynamically stable in any attitude, nose high / nose low, even sideways. There is no righting moment (weather-vane effect).
This makes controlling easier, as there is no moment to fight against. If the mass center is moved forward, this should change automatically. The nose will then try to move in the direction of the flight vector, and the wings (fins, flaps, ...) will have to counteract this tendency. For example, to keep the nose high at 60° the canards must to be more open (spread-out) than the main wings, to balance the righting moment of the hull.
All-in-all a very interesting testbed for a total new way of aerodynamic reentry. And good-looking, as all addons by Brian. Thanks a lot!