How Will NASA Test The Next Lunar Lander? (Visiting Mighty Eagle Lander Test)- Smarter Every Day 252

When it was clearing out thrusters it sounded like music.

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Hey Destin! First off, thanks for making my love for all things NASA enjoyable. And thank you for the notebook you sent! It just arrived today and I can’t wait to fill it with ideas and thoughts that get me, “ Smarter Everyday”! Keep up the great content and I can’t wait till I too get to display my SED baseball!

Keith Waggoner

Yeah, I noticed this too. Some actual mistakes that affect important facts in the video (saying that the hydrogen peroxide they use is 9000% pure when spoken was 90%) - I would be willing to update them if I could get the file.

Sam Cyanide

Just saw this article by NASA and thought it worthwhile sharing here: - www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/feature/nasa-blue-origin-to-bring-lunar-gravity-conditions-closer-to-earth.html

Daniel Turner

Just a heads up, the closed captioning on the Youtube vid need some review. Love this video though.

So, does this device not need a gimbal to keep the Earth Gravity Cancellation Thruster pointing directly downwards like the LLTV?

Colin Richardson

It seems that a lot of SpaceX approach to the ISS is automated, but after the Boeing MCAS issues, it seems that a human should have the ultimate authority regarding safe landing. Fine if automated, but a human should have ability to abort or land. We still keep pilots in aircraft, even though they can land autonomously. It doesn't seem that the auto driving car public is always aware of their responsibility to supervise the system and crashes happen.

Darrel Crane

It seems like Google is putting ads right in the middle of the coolest parts of the videos. Is there a way to move them around?

william bumgardner

It’s a clock!

Hey Destin or others. What are the lights on the board I. The background of the interview portion of the video? When Logan was sitting in your office (current day) the item is on the wall in the background.

I came here for this discussion. Obviously, should we be mere spectators in any landing? My opinion is YES! Software (and especially AI) has shown how to do things, most of our vehicles can be self-driven. Why should we train an astronaut that can be affected by fear in the moment of truth?

Yes, they will function pretty much the same, however gains will have to be increased for greater sensitivity and that can result in a higher signal to noise ratio. Calibration is pretty much the key to success.

Earl

EGC was not gimballed but the tilt angle never got more than a few degrees so the contribution was minimal. Adding gimballing would've increased complexity and mass like you said. Pros and cons to each!

Logan

Didn't pick that tether hardware, but there were some other climbing-influenced hardware on the program ;)

Logan

I'm curious on the gravity reducing engine (sorry.. can't remember the acronym).. It wasn't mentioned, but I ASSUME that it is gyro stabilized to always point toward the ground? If not, then all the math and thrust needed will change when the vehicle tilts. That's the thing I felt was so cool about the one Armstrong practiced on - I had never thought of that problem before! Did this vehicle have that sophistication? I guess it could be compensated for in software, but it would add significant complexity and more places to fail!

Steve Jones

I was wondering if the electronic accelerometers and gyroscopes used today function the same in less gravity? I'm sure the smart NASA folks know.

2 things - You can't simulate something you haven't built yet, so unlike a flight simulator where you understand the flight characteristics of a cessna 172 that you can then "simulate", I'd think any software written for hardware which has never been flown would just be a guess as to the accuracy, and 2: speaking from personal experience, I can tell you I NEVER was able to land a cessna 172 in MSFS until I got some real stick time. Now I'm a private pilot, and can generally land the simulator, but I can tell you it's NOTHING like the feel of a real plane. Both have value, but if there's going to be a way for the pilot to control the real thing, then the pilot needs to train on the real thing before they get to the moon.

Steve Jones

Same.. not a big deal, but I was looking forward to displaying it on the mantle!! Knowing what he went through for all those, I am not complaining though!! I'd rather he have the time to make more videos!

Steve Jones

Based on Logan's shirt, he's a rock climber. I wonder if he picked the tether system. Those shock reduction features look a lot like stuff I've seen for rock climbing anchors.

Destin on your question at the end with the human in the loop. I HIGHLY recommend reading a book called “Digital Apollo”. It talks specifically about this question and the trade space. Ping me and I can give you a quick cliffs notes if you like.

Barron B

I would have liked more coverage of why it is necessary to have a real world vehicle instead of just something running in a simulator on a computer.

Alex Civitello

Beyond awesome. Thank you!

6 months and still no baseball in my mailbox. ☹️