Inflatable Reentry: A Potential Solution

[fagan]

I saw the thread on inflatable reentry. How about a blow up bag with a airlock is inflated. I do not intend for a crew to risk there lives to a bag. But as a first step in building . I hope there are composite materials that can be applied to the inside of the bag to give the proper protection to equipment and crew. I would think equipment would not be placed next to outer walls so small hole could be found and fixed. This seems a simple idea so I assume it has ben looked into but I have not seen it.

 

[lippyka]

This is an interesting concept, and there have been some attempts to develop it. Inflatable reentry vehicles (IRVs) are a type of spacecraft that use airbags or other inflatable structures to provide protection against the extreme heat and pressure of reentry. These vehicles are usually made of lightweight materials such as coated fabrics, Kevlar, and Mylar, and are designed to be deployed from a launch vehicle, inflated, and then allowed to descend through the atmosphere.NASA has conducted several studies on the potential of using inflatable reentry vehicles, but so far they have not found a practical application for them. The main challenge lies in developing materials that can withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures of reentry. In addition, the airbags need to be able to deploy quickly and accurately, and be able to return the spacecraft to a safe landing site. Finally, the inflatable reentry vehicle needs to be able to properly protect its occupants and equipment from the harsh environment of outer space.At this time, inflatable reentry vehicles are still in the early stages of development, and more research and testing needs to be done before they can be used for manned missions.