M
mrmorris
Guest
<font color="yellow">"While it is a plus to keep cable runs to a minimum, putting the avionics in the front defeats the dynamics of a capsule design. The major mass should be as close to the back as possible to increase the inherent stability. "</font><br /><br />The calculations for the ACRV patent (5,064,151 ) I mentioned earlier actually indicate the opposite as I read it:<br /><br /><i>"The other aerodynamic consideration was the moment slope (Cm-alpha) which determines the aerodynamic stability of the vehicle. A negative Cm-alpha defines a statically stable vehicle in which restoring forces are generated if the angle-of-attack is disturbed away from zero (note that dynamic stability is not guaranteed). The more negative the Cm-alpha, the more statically stable the vehicle behaves. FIG. 5 shows the Cm-alphas of the three original candidates and the final return vehicle design. They are plotted as functions of the c.g. position from the nose of the vehicles (Xcg). In all cases, the closer the c.g. is to the nose, the more negative Cm-alpha becomes and the more stable the vehicle is. "</i><br /><br />The seems to indicate we want more weight forward. I haven't run the calculations myself (nor do I have the means to), nor do I know if they are correct. I only know that I don't know enough to make a statement either way.<br /><br />