NASA's Robotic Lander Takes Flight (AWESOME VIDEO!!)

Not much to say here, it pretty much speaks for itself. However i will say this, i've always felt the "real" crop circles are made from craft similar to this landing.

The robotic lander successfully flew up to 7 feet for 27 seconds, proving it can execute commands autonomously, such as hover for an extended period, control its position and orientation and land successfully. More free flight tests are planned that could potentially take the lander up to 100 feet and last up to 60 seconds.

The prototype provides a platform to develop and test algorithms, sensors, avionics, software, landing legs, and integrated system elements to support autonomous landings on airless bodies, where aero-braking and parachutes are not options. The test program furthers NASA’s capability to conduct science and exploration activities on airless bodies in the solar system.

The project is partnered with the U.S. Army’s Test and Evaluation Command’s test center located at Redstone Arsenal. Redstone Test Center is one of six centers under the U.S. Army Test and Evaluation Command and has been a leading test facility for defense systems since the 1950’s.

www.nasa.gov...

infrared

reply to post by toreishi


i saw you post a video in another thread earlier about a flying/hovering ball. Can you post that here for me please

With all the anti-gravity talk being thrown around on ATS i thought this would be a hot topic.

Originally posted by ProphecyPhD
With all the anti-gravity talk being thrown around on ATS i thought this would be a hot topic.

Probably because this is neither new, or anti gravity related.

reply to post by ProphecyPhD


If you think that video is awesome, then you should see the original lunar lander tests from the 60's...



As already stated, it is by far not new technology, nor anti-gravity.

Originally posted by ProphecyPhD
However i will say this, i've always felt the "real" crop circles are made from craft similar to this landing.

Unless they have unlimited fuel or energy, a design like this is very impractical. A system like this is only really good for landing.

Oh, and crop circles are a hoax.

I still find this the coolest.
It says it is from the 80s so that's why I said the tech was old. I couldn't remember what is was called.
It says VTOL. Multi directional thrust stabilization.
By the way, it looks small in the video but it is actually about 6 feet long.

Did I hear a gremlin at 1:13?!? Weirdness!!

reply to post by ProphecyPhD

Doesn't it seem surprising that this type of landing is still such a challenge? I would have thought NASA would be masters of this by now. They are supposed to have been doing it since Apollo....

To me, this method looks too risky and inefficient. Surely there is a safer method? Correct me if I'm wrong - I'm no aviation specialist - but if this was a sensible way to land, surely other aircraft would use it. If there is a simple explanation then I'd like to know. When I was teaching once, a pupil asked me about this and I had to admit I didn't know enough to answer.

reply to post by snowen20


Now that was COOL!! The movements really made me think of what people describe as the way UFO's manouver. Nice vid.

reply to post by ProphecyPhD

What's the big deal? I mean we did have moon landers back in like 1968 right?

Why is NASA still recreating technology we had ove 40 years ago?