@LanceJZ @isaackuo @archaeohistories
Back then they were still in the Mercury or Gemini programmes, and the capsule *did* have thrusters.
I don't have my copy of "The Right Stuff" to hand, but the incident with the "Air Cushion Inflation" warning light and the decision to re-enter with the thruster pack attached was given to the astronaut _without_ telling them why. (So it would have been Mercury.) Continued... (1/2)
@LanceJZ @isaackuo @archaeohistories
Mission Control were "concerned" that if the air cushion (meant to absorb the shock of landing) had inflated prematurely it would have dislodged the heat shield, and they'd have a total loss of the capsule (with extra-crispy occupant). They elected to re-enter with the thruster pack attached, and it melted with bits going past the window as the descent continued. Thankfully the warning light was due to a wiring fault. (2/last)
There may indeed be more to the story.
I come from a rural background. Many people drive 80 kph (50 mph) on these roads. And they hit the ditch more often.
There might be some weight restrictions that prohibit big trucks on this road. The pavement in the photo (or oily gravel) looks a little on the weak side to me.
Anyways, we need more info to know why this thing has remained in the ditch for 67 years.
@archaeohistories I love that idea, why not do fun with it... 🙂
@Cadbury_Moose @LanceJZ @archaeohistories While this is true of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo capsules (including the Apollo service module), a reusable capsule could enter nose first rather than tail first.
Nuclear missile reentry heat shields are blunt cones entering nose first.
That said, Dragon does do tail first reentry, placing the thrusters on the sides rather than the tail. I just think it "looks" wrong.
@LanceJZ @Cadbury_Moose @archaeohistories This is what people think of when they think of the Apollo "capsule". It has a big main thruster in the tail, and lots of thruster clusters all over the place.
That's the reason why the artists modifying the cement mixer tank felt the need to add thrusters. It didn't look right without them, because the overall shape looks like a capsule plus its service module.
@capngloval @archaeohistories I love stories like this where it has a happy ending or something fun is made as a result of it
Tell me government in Oklahoma is a failure without saying government in Oklahoma is a failure.
@LanceJZ @Cadbury_Moose @isaackuo @archaeohistories ok _hwat_ are those astronauts doing
@archaeohistories It was filled with concrete, not cement. Cement is like yeast; concrete is like bread.
@isaackuo @Cadbury_Moose @LanceJZ @archaeohistories That is only true for modern ballistic missile RVs, initially they were launched blunt end forward, since the materials of that time didn't allow a more accurate short end forward reentry because these cause higher temperatures. (That is also why the Space Shuttle got a rather blunt nose)
Also, there are far more than just one kind of capsule. Imagine this as a biconic lifting body, and it isn't that much fictive to retain its aft thrusters.
@archaeohistories When you live in Winganon, Oklahoma, you need SOMETHING to do.
@archaeohistories @sundogplanets
I think I drove past this a long time ago
@rdfrkian and my mom's - so wierd to see it pop up on fedi, it's so out of the way. last i saw it was plain gray again, i hope they fixed it back up
@archaeohistories how many reply-guys are needed to replace thrusters on a failed space capsule filled with err... cement or concrete? 
