Could this be applied to landing in thin atmospheres?

To return to one of my earlier thoughts here but modifying it I just this moment thought of using basins of fine or very fine dust(s).

The idea is stimulated by the article reporting that NASA-astronauts had the thought of skiing on the moon since the dust there is reminding to snow and seem to allow for skiing.

Since the dust is sharp-edged the hull of the vehicle would have to be adjusted to that.

It would take very much time to fill the required amount of fine dust into a basin on Moon or Mars - but if it is ready one day it might reduce the required amount of propellant for breaking rockets since a portion of the deceleration would be done by the dust in the basin...

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It could be tested on the Moon first - by small unmanned vehicles for example. This could be done when a first space company has established a test- and development-area at the Moon .



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

Simply to complete the list of ideas and approaches jpowells extremely large wings of the ATO are to be added here.

He explicitlysays that the ATO can land on planets having an atmosphere as thin as the earthian atmosphere in 42 km altitude where his DSSs will be and from where the ATO will start its missions.

May be it can be likened to the air cushion idea a bit.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)