Re: Brute force re-entry

From: Allen Meece (navigaiter2002_at_aol.comSpamsuX.retro.com)
Date: 09/04/04 

To: <sci-space-tech@moderators.isc.org>
Date: 04 Sep 2004 03:14:05 GMT

<<Incorrect. The space shuttle re-enters at a flight path angle typically
between -1 and -1.5 degrees. That's hardly "steep".>>
   Also incorrect. The shuttle's flight path angle in the atmosphere is 20 --
25 degrees.
   You're thinking about the initial orbital departure angle, not the average
sink rate along the entire descent.
   The shuttle's reentry path IS STEEP. It is a high wing-loading, controlled
brute force reentry. Hardly as graceful as a good lifting body like the
cancelled [!?] X-38 would do.
                          ^
                        //^\\
       ~~~ near space elevator ~~~~
~~~members.aol.com/beanstalkr/~~~