It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
Originally posted by Bhadhidar
reply to post by defcon5
The Real reason we haven' t seen or heard very much about airships (which have been flying longer than other types of aircraft, BTW) is that we have always focused on Speed, not simplicity as our guiding flight principle.
Everyone roots for the Rabbit, while the Turtle wins the race.
Originally posted by defcon5
reply to post by Bhadhidar
airships for use as Sub spotters. They all crashed in a relatively short period of time due to weather that other aircraft would have avoided or survived. Of course we all know what happened to the German attempt at working with rigid airships.
A couple to questions though...
how are they going to prevent accidents resulting from micrometeorite collisions? How are they going to deorbit without going through reentry?
I see that they are going to use ion engines to get up enough speed at high altitude to archive orbit, taking up to five days. I would be sweating bullets on that thing for five days for fear of being hit by a micro meteor, meteor, or sprite while flying over a thunderstorm.
Originally posted by alexander_delta
Except this INFLATABLE space station has been orbiting for years. Its on its 10,000 orbit now....
Our external inspection cameras have allowed us to inspect the outer layers of our protective blankets. We have found no visible evidence of micrometeoroid impacts to the outer surface of the spacecraft. We will continue to survey and evaluate the exterior of the spacecraft to evaluate its exposure to the space environment.
Originally posted by ANNED
LOL one thing about a Patent is you do not have to prove it will work.
i will believe this is a usable system only after the first one makes orbit.