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LionST1 t1_j5xbury wrote

Reply to comment by DoubleDot7 in Why do sample return missions such as OSIRIS-REx use their own reentry vehicles instead of just going to the space station for pickup and return with ISS equipment? by PromptCritical725

Using elastic deformation of structural materials and the landing zone to rapidly dissipate kinetic energy, very clever.

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Equoniz t1_j5xh962 wrote

I’m pretty sure lithobraking often entails deformation significantly past the elastic limits of the materials involved.

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LetterBoxSnatch t1_j5z15vc wrote

I suppose it depends on just how elastic your definition of “elastic” is…the materials may still be capable of reattaining their prior size and shape, given enough energy and engineering dollars

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oz6702 t1_j5xl67o wrote

This is the kind of engineering we're trying to perfect over at /r/KerbalSpaceProgram

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