spyderpig
7 years ago
For whatever it's worth, I built all the tip rockets utilized by RotaryRocket. In addition to the 4 used in the modified Sikorsky S-58 rotor blades, there is a group of 3 identical thrusters in the rear for "rudder" control, not counter-torque. I considered the high-speed taxi tests a waste of precious resources and a needless risk as there would never be a requirement for that flight regime. Smooth translational flight was impossible due to tip thrust lead/lag lockout. "experts"..right...sure..
(, Thu 27 Aug 2020, 16:16, Reply)
Rotonception
(, Thu 27 Aug 2020, 17:16, Reply)
Of course if the capsule now includes heavy new experimental shit that means you need to spend more delta-v chucking it up in space in the first place, which is just ye olde rocket equation. And of course it introduces loads of new stuff that can go wrong compared to an economic and reliable Soyuz capsule.
(, Thu 27 Aug 2020, 18:40, Reply)
Roton was a fascinating concept - and it was proposed as a Single Stage to Orbit launch vehicle.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotary_Rocket
I'm still not sold on what problems with normal rockets it was supposed to solve. It added a huge amount of complexity and mass for the rotors, where a better solution might just have been to add the equivalent mass of rocket fuel.
(, Thu 27 Aug 2020, 20:49, Reply)
As a reentry vehicle it's already fairly daft but as an SSTO it's insane.
(, Thu 27 Aug 2020, 21:23, Reply)