NASA's Morpheus Lunar Lander Free Flight

[bananas]

Project Morpheus Free Flight 04
Morpheus Lander
Published on Dec 17, 2013

The Morpheus Team successfully completed the second free flight of the Bravo vehicle at the KSC SLF on Tuesday, December 17, 2013. The vehicle flew its pre-planned trajectory flawlessly, landing within 3.5 inches of its intended target. Morpheus ascended from the ground over the flame trench to an altitude of about 164 feet (50m), after pausing briefly at 82 feet (25m) to maintain the target ascent velocities. The vehicle then flew forward, covering about 154 feet (47m) in 30 seconds, before descending and landing on a dedicated landing pad inside the ALHAT Hazard Field. This was our highest and most ambitious test to date. As we continue free flights at KSC in January, we'll increase difficulty as we fly higher, farther and faster in 2014.

[bananas]

1. Project Morpheus Free Flight - Vehicle View

[bananas]

2. Wikipedia on Project Morpheus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Morpheus

Project Morpheus is developing vertical take off and landing test bed vehicles. The vehicles are NASA designed robotic landers that will be able to land 1,100 pounds (500 kg) of cargo on the Moon.[1]

<snip>

In June 2013 the team said they hope to scale the 500 kg payload lander up to produce one able to land a habitat with a crew on places such as the Moon.[19]

<snip>

The project estimates that the new engine could lift the ascent stage of a manned lander containing 3-4 people to lunar orbit[38]

<snip>

[Spitfire of ATJ]

3. It's a shame that ALL lift must be from thrust.

[Warren DeMontague]

4. Extremely Cool.

[Demo_Chris]

5. Cool. nt

[zebonaut]

6. Nice hot shower if you stand under it

I guess we really did go to the moon....

[Unca Jim]

7. Finally! Lunar Lander is a reality!

http://chrome.atari.com/lunarlander/