Sophisticated Balloons Could Help Steer Spacecraft

coondoggie writes "Getting spacecraft traveling at hypersonic speeds to slow down and land or achieve a particular orbit on a dime is no easy feat. But researchers are developing a tool that will let engineers model and ultimately build advanced flight control systems that meld balloon and parachute technologies known as a ballute (BALLoon-parachUTE). Basically a ballute is a large, inflatable device that takes advantage of atmospheric drag to decelerate and capture a spacecraft into orbit around a planet, according to NASA who is funding Global Aerospace to build such a tool."

Caution: Humans at work

[starglider29a]

This would be a very efficient way to put a satellite into a nice, 100 mile high orbit. DOH! 100 kilometers! WHATEVER!

Reminds me of 2010...

[K. S. Kyosuke]

I just hope that the life of NASA folks is not becoming obsessively balloonic.

So many options

[Thanshin]

advanced flight control systems that meld balloon and parachute technologies known as a ballute (BALLoon-parachUTE).

I'd have called it Paraloon.

Or possibly Ballachute.

"Ballachute! I choose you!"

Yep. It works.

In next weeks news....

[koterica]

North Korea is developing long range "Communications Darts". These are not in any way intended for use as weapons.

Re:Colbert

[Thanshin]

I officially think that the folks at NASA are a bunch of jerks for not respecting the results of their ISS node naming contest. :-(

Indeed.

It kills our best chance of making our first contact with a ship called "Skullfuck Soulshitter".

Ballute jokes

[192939495969798999]

My other car is a ballute.

Oh yeah? well my new cadillac is a ballute de ville.

yo momma's so fat, when she jumps out of an airplane, she has to use a ballute.

I would write more, but my computer's about to crash, so I have to reballute.

Re:Typo in summary

[Anonymous Coward]

I stand corrected. I didn't know that word, and apparently had too much faith in my english skills to look it up in a dictionary.

I know chicks with large "sophisticated balloons"

[SensitiveMale]

steer my eyes straight to their racks.

Re:MAGIC BALLOONS

[Anonymous Coward]

Atmospheric drag? It sure is going to be cool when they come out with a big balloon, covered in multi-inch thick ceramic tiles for heat dispersion.

You seem to know an awful lot about this. Are you some sort of Atmospheric drag queen?