tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post3969461585454523167..comments2024-03-28T10:26:00.255-05:00Comments on An Ex Rocket Man's Take On It: Baumgartner Balloon Jump RecordGary Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06723964751681093047noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post-10604309320017993832012-10-19T18:23:15.519-05:002012-10-19T18:23:15.519-05:00Hi Jacob:
How about an inflatable something like ...Hi Jacob:<br /><br />How about an inflatable something like a big round rubber raft, that you fill with a fairly dense urethane foam, once inflated. It should have a cavity in which you recline until reentry is over. The shape should be round, but also sort of conical around you, so that it is inherently aerodynamically stable. It burns so you don't. You tumble out of it around Mach 1-ish, and land on a personnel chute. Not original with me, the idea was studied decades ago as project MOOSE, Man Out of Orbit SoonEst. They couldn't do it then. We can now. <br /><br />GW<br /><br />Gary Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06723964751681093047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2675974463524895416.post-13107575682504056002012-10-18T13:32:33.345-05:002012-10-18T13:32:33.345-05:00Coming in from orbital speeds would definitely add...Coming in from orbital speeds would definitely add heat, but wouldn't it add aerodynamic forces too? By "sacrificial heat shield material" are you thinking a flexible layer on the outside of your space suit? If you go into a spin like Baumgartner at Mach 20 instead of Mach 1, would the human body withstand the aerodynamic forces? Of course the density is much lower, so the dynamic pressure is too. Sounds like a fun thesis topic. "The Ergonomics of Hypersonic Compressible Aerodynamics"jacob.chanceryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07000340870551873306noreply@blogger.com