Creating a Computer-Controlled Lunar Lander

[DavidSnider]

Model "Lunar Lander"

How hard do you think it would be to develop a small scale computer controlled vertical take-off and landing machine?

Do you think it could be done without using extremely high powered rockets?

 

[russ_watters]

How "hard" it is depends on your level of expertise and your resources. If you have $50 million dollars and a hundred engineers and technicians at your disposal, it should be a piece of cake!

And yes, it can certainly be done with jet engines or props.

 

[DavidSnider]

No I'm thinking more like a toy. Like a computer controlled RC helicopter except using some other form of lift than propss... I dunno, probably not possible.

 

[russ_watters]

Oh, well on that scale it may be possible, though building even a small liquid rocket engine is not for the faint of heart. I would consider that type of project to be about the right level for a multidisciplinary undergraduate engineering senior design team project. For an individual, though, pretty difficult - hundreds of hours of work and a lot to learn unless you are already an accomplished aerospace engineer and computer engineer.