After scaring the world, China shows off 'chute that can aim Long March rockets' descents

After years of expecting the world to deal with debris from the Long March rockets, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) has developed a parachute system to guide its rockets to a predetermined landing zone. According to state-sponsored media, analysis of debris from a test determined that the parachute …

[KittenHuffer]

I wonder if .....

..... they just googled for Francis Rogallo and/or the Rogallo wing?!?

I'm sure that the work that NASA put in 60 years ago would have helped them muchly!

[EricB123]

Re: I wonder if .....

I tried flying a Rogallo wing hang glider once. After an afternoon of failing to take off, on my last try of the day I did exactly that. In my excitement, I climbed too steeply and stalled the kite. Luckily, I escaped with only a severe concussion!

[Anonymous Coward]

Or follow China's tradition

And steal SpaceX's technology for landing boosters.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Or follow China's tradition

If they could be bothered. If it lands outside China, it's someone else's look out, but even if it's inside China as long as it's not Beijing, Xi wont care, plenty more workers available.

[martinusher]

Re: Or follow China's tradition

Its only a matter of time before everyone is landing boosters for reuse. (They're only obe part of a launch system, though.)

[MachDiamond]

Re: Or follow China's tradition

"And steal SpaceX's technology for landing boosters."

The thing is it isn't SpaceX's technology.

But speaking of... The Falcon 9's navigate back to the landing pads using the waffle grids and a bit of RCS. The engines are just used to slow way down for a reasonable landing and a touch of movement to center up on the pad nicely. Parachutes are subject to the vagaries of the wind so using aerodynamic control surfaces can be far more accurate and since they aren't that concerned about re-flying the rocket, a hard landing isn't a big deal as long as the parts are still big enough to make retrieval simple.

[Wzrd1]

It'd work great for a repeat of

Intelsat 708.

It'd complete the job on the incinerated village.

[Yeoyeo]

Long march

China as the right to defend its sovereignty &rightfully so.with an uncertain global defensive Insecurity. The US been dictated to by a demented rambling madman that cares nothing about his own citizens &more about a Ukraine. US nuclear bombed Japan.US indiscriminately use nuclear test bombing polluting all of us.but when China tests a parachute system its a scare tactic all of a sudden. The fact president XI as invested massively in his people infrastructure military education employment. The very opposite to western politics at the moment.

Western media made the soviet the bad wolf now its China well the problem is the madman in the Whitehouse. Judge for yourself

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Long march

Sure CCP.

[Casca]

Re: Long march

How nice to see china propaganda...

You should keep to twitter

[kitekrazy]

Re: Long march

Go live there and then come back to talk to us.

[Benegesserict Cumbersomberbatch]

Re: Long march

Old Winnie got where he is because of his Dad.

China could do with a socialist revolution.