They are at the top, above water, so what's the point of them?
Here's a picture as an example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Splashdown_3.jpg
2007-08-29 19:13:00 · 2 answers · asked by presidentrichardnixon 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Apollo capsule pictured had two stable positions in the water. Stable 1, the pictured orientation, was the one they needed to be in to get out of the capsule. Stable 2 was upside down, with the bottom of the capsule out of the water and the top underwater, with the hatch underwater too. Obviously that way up was useless for recovery. The balloons were a righting system. After inflation they would cause the capsule, if it was in the stable 2 position, to flip over to stable 1 so the astronauts could open the hatch and get out.
The balloons are apparently pointlessly above water in that picture because they have already served their purpose. When they were first inflated they were underwater.
2007-08-29 21:07:40 · answer #1 · answered by Jason T 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
After the capsule splashed down in the ocean those balloons kept it upright in the waves. This upright position was known as 'stable one.'
2007-08-30 03:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by Chug-a-Lug 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋