If the chute was deployed very high up, could it not slow down the craft then at say 500mph it could thow the chute and glide.
2006-09-28 03:18:24 · 10 answers · asked by commentman 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
nope, you still have to come in through the atmosphere which is where the heating takes place. Too slow or wrong angle, you burn up, or bounce off.
2006-09-28 03:26:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A space craft re enters the earths atmosphere at around 18000 miles an hour at an height of about 100 miles. Even at this height there is a thin atmosphere which causes the friction which in turn heats up the skin of the space craft. If an parachute where deployed it would be riped to pieces and burn up in seconds..
The whole idea of ablative friction is to allow the outer skin (usually a ceramic tile) of a craft to burn off in a controlled way using the atmosphere as the brake , this method was used in the Apollo program.
However the newer space shuttle doesn't use parachutes until it wheels touch the landing strip.. this craft relies solely on ablative friction and gliding a special flight path to reduce speed enough for it to land safely...
2006-09-28 04:40:33 · answer #2 · answered by robert x 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The trouble is the spacecraft is travelling very fast (in the order of Thousands of miles and hour) a Parachute would not be able to slow the spacecraft down and in thin air their would not be enough drag to make the parachute work. The only way is to use friction to slow the space craft down or emmense amounts of fuel.
2006-09-28 03:31:05 · answer #3 · answered by Paul B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have answered the question yourself. A parachute works by creating drag as it is pulled through the air, if the air is thin it will not produce sufficient drag. You can use a parachute lower down where the atmosphere is thicker, as they used to do before.
2006-09-28 03:28:14 · answer #4 · answered by dopeysaurus 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You can use parachute only after entering the earth's atmosphere whereas the problem is the space craft getting heated up when it just enters the earth's atmosphere.
2006-09-28 03:28:19 · answer #5 · answered by Hobby 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Weight of fuel is another big problem.....travelling at the speed of light is another...the G force we have to endure is part of the speed we have to travel. heat shields are needed out there where radiation bombards the craft....
2006-09-28 03:21:13 · answer #6 · answered by Quintus T 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main thing is the amount of friction caused by the earth's atmosphere. This causes the heat.
2006-09-28 03:26:37 · answer #7 · answered by ryan 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
before re-entry they are in a vacuum, and chutes don't work well when there is no air
2006-09-28 03:28:06 · answer #8 · answered by native 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Parachutes were once used. Now, technology has advanced to the point that they are not needed and not feasible.
2006-09-28 03:26:48 · answer #9 · answered by William T 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
no its more technical that that.
Gravity for one and many other factors that you and me don't understand
2006-09-28 03:20:45 · answer #10 · answered by timone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋