top | item 44643587

(no title)

cnlevy | 7 months ago

Soyuz uses propulsive landing

discuss

order

wat10000|7 months ago

Soyuz lands by parachute. It uses a rocket at the very end (literally two feet off the ground) to cushion the impact.

numpad0|7 months ago

And that's why astronauts preferred the Shuttle

0_____0|7 months ago

what, the puff of impulse at the end of the parachute descent? I thinks it's a bit disingenuous to call that propulsive landing without context

cnlevy|7 months ago

You're right; I meant to refute the following point: NASA nixed the idea of propulsive landing for Dragon 2 for this reason (safety)

It wasn't because of safety, but because it would have needed tests, development and certification (for a new type of landing) while already having an established method (splashing into the sea).