JB11 Latest Jetpack

Looks like Jetpack people have again created a new version of their "real jetpack", real meaning that it really uses jets and not rockets like some earlier versions of jetpacks did.

Figure 1. Jetpack JB-11 uses multiple turbines for additional redundance. It can fly with one turbine inoperative. 

VIDEOS:

YouTube video: "World’s Most Advanced JetPack, the JB11 First EVER Flight at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2018"


RESOURCES:

/1/ http://www.jetpackaviation.com/

/2/ YouTube

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(Mars) Vehicle "2500" - Part 2 - The Plans

Basically if the target planet or object has less gravity than Mars and/or any atmosphere or not at all like Earth's Moon this vehicle should be fine. It differs from the Apollo Lunar Module in those parts which require aerodynamics but is otherwise similar. It can be used with some amount of AB (aero braking) but it can also handle braking with rockets alone. If much gas is available for braking then less fuel is required and that mass can be used for transport purposes if required. So basically our design is a general purpose lander, but fits best to Mars, Moons etc.

Here is the more detailed general plan of the vehicle "2500".

Figure 1. General purpose lander for Mars, Moons, etc.

Mars Vehicle "2500" - Part 1 - Basics

This Mars Vehicle (MV), model "2500" is part of the LEAMOR (Light Extended Apollo Mars Orbit Rendezvous) total mission plan. See the article for general ideas about that Mars mission plan.

Figure 1. Mars Vehicle (MV) "2500" with ablative lower part and heat shield above ablative fuel balls.

JB-10 Latest Jetpack

Looks like Jetpack people have again created a new version of their "real jetpack", real meaning that it really uses jets and not rockets like some earlier versions of jetpacks did.

Jetpack JB-10 new in 2016 flown single handed.

Jetman Canopy and "Bomb Bay" Idea

Since watching the many fascinating flights of "Jetman" team I came to the idea of a canopy that might add some comfort to the flying and also maybe add some extra fuel or bomb bay to the concept. When flying at 200 km/h or so with totally open cockpit the wind pressure to the head is rather large. Also in Jetman's case since the plane is so small the smallest movement of the head will steer the plane to any direction .. so it is rather hard to look around etc. without the wind ripping off your head if flying without any canopy at all.

So here is the idea:

Jetman Canopy (Sled) System idea

If the canopy is made of light materials (honey comp sandwich carbon fiber for example) it should not add much weight. Also the overall air resistance should not be much worse .. or it could even be better since the canopy is more optimal formed than the shoulders and head of the pilot. Notice also the quick release mechanism which allows the pilot to get rid of the canopy if required. The reason to locate the canopy under the belly is the fact that the parachute system needs as much as possible space behind the pilot.

Additionally some extra fuel or even weapons could be carried under the belly .. and also the much required avionics, such as air speed meters and navigators could be included inside the canopy.

Even some wheels might be installed in some future systems..

An future option might be to add small wheels to this sled and maybe even make runway takeoffs and or even landings with it .. but the hanging legs should maybe be included inside the sled in the latter case.

Jetman over Dubai

Here is the picture without the proposed sled.

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LEAMOR Mars Mission - Entry and Return Vehicles (Part 4)

PART 4: Entry and Return Vehicles

Why to have separated Entry and Return Vehicles (EV and RV) for the mission. Basically separating them makes it possible to divide the required consumables and propellants to two smaller amounts. And the one without the astronauts could then be sent using lower speed and less propellant expensive routes. Additionally two return capable vehicles in the LMO add to the safety of the astronauts. If one of the vehicles is broken the other one hopefully still is usable.

Return or Entry Vehicle without the Habitat Module (HM). Service Module (SM) to the left and the Orion re-entry capsule to the right.

LEAMOR Manned Space Craft - Modular Transport Engine (Part 3)

PART 3: Modular Transport Engine (TE)

LEAMOR stabnds for Light Extended Apollo Mars Orbit Rendezvous.

As we already have figured out that the large spacecraft must be modular (since the lift vehicle can only lift a certain amount to the LEO at one time). See the previous part of this article series and we call these about 150 ton (lbs) building blocks as L-modules.

L-Modules about 150 000 lbs each, size about D5 x L11.75

LEAMOR Manned Mars Mission - Why Modular? (Part 2)

PART 2: Why the Manned Mars Mission Must be Modular?

Simply because the launch vehicle can only lift a certain amount at any time - and that size or mass will be the maximum module size - and the only way to get larger masses and structures is to bolt them together in the low Earth's orbit (LEO).

LEAMOR stabnds for Light Extended Apollo Mars Orbit Rendezvous.

SLS can lift about 150 .. 300 tons (lbs) to LEO

LEAMOR Mission - Light Extended Apollo Mars Orbit Rendezvous (Part 1)

PART 1: LEAMOR MISSION BASICS

How to land a man on the Mars and return him safely to the Earth

It looks like the main problem is NOT that we couldn't do it but that we maybe need more time and/or money for it?

I represent here a simple LEAMOR mission plan to Mars and back which just extends the Apollo missions and tries not to do anything more in the first phase than just to get a man on the Mars and return him safely to the Earth. LEAMOR stands for Light Extended Apollo Mars Orbit Rendezvous. (See also LOR).

The following picture shows the basic Mars mission phases.

Typical Mars mission and its main events.

The Fastest Comfort Travel in Space (by Dr. Michael Minovitch)

Dr. Michael Minovitch introduces in the following video the idea of a very fast and comfort ride everywhere in space. The spacecraft either accelerates or decelerates during the whole journey using 1 G which is natural and most comfort for human. The trajectories are straight lines between any points .. no orbits used. The idea needs of course very powerful fuel and proper fusion engine. But since the fusion is possible .. it most likely will also be available in some scale for humans in the future.

Here is the video:

Youtube video: "11.0 Ground-To-Orbit Fusion Propulsion System for Achieving Commercial Interplanetary Space Travel"

Additional videos:

Youtube: "Magnetoplasma Rocket Engine (Ad Astra) (VASIMR)"

Youtube: "ISS Update: VASIMR Plasma Rocket"

Youtube: "Nuclear Propulsion in Space (1968)"

Youtube: "Ion Propulsion - Deep Space One (Documentary)(Part 1 of 4)"

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Jetman Take-off Trolley Idea

We all have seen how the Jetman flies nowadays with his jet powered wing but have you ever been thinking how to do the takeoff without a helicopter.

Jetman Dubai helicopter take-off

Here is an idea of a trolley (or a modified garage creeper) which would assist the takeoff run and then be left behind when enough speed reached.

Jetman Take-off Trolley: A) accelerate to the takeoff speed B) pull up and fly

Since the takeoff speeds of a jetman wing are in the range of 200 km/h the wheels should be modified to give better support in high speeds and also some kind of a front wheel steering should be added. Also it is questionable if the jets in the current configuration can give enough power to win the rolling resistance of the wheels? But what so ever would be the difficulities here is the simple idea presented.

Additionally you may be interested of some Jetman (Dubai) videos:


VIDEOS  

The following video demonstrates the current Jetman system: helicopter take-off and parachute landing.

Youtube video: "Jetman Dubai : Young Feathers 4K"

Additionally any kind of rocket assisted take-off could be implemented to reduce the take-off costs. A basis for some ideas might be the following F35 ejection seat tests.

Youtube video: "F35 Ejector seat trials"

Youtube video: "Martin-Baker Eurofighter Ejection Seat Testing"

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Inflatable Gravity Wheel

Here is a design of a simple gravity wheel which is inflatable. Since humans need pressurized air around them it is natural to use inflatable structures in space. Here is the concept represented.

Inflatable Life Capsule - "Space Lifeboat"

Based on the NASA's latest Inflatable Heat Shield (IHS) innovation it is now rather straight forward to figure out how an inflatable Space Lifeboat (SLB / ISLB) or an Inflatable Life Capsule (ILC) should look like and how it should be used.

Video: HIAD or IHS Re-entry (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, Inflatable Heat Shield)

An IHS might also be called a HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator).

An Inflatable Life Capsule is similar to a lifeboat in an ocean ship.

In picture 1 we see an ILC connected to some space vehicle (ISS, a rocket or similar). The idea behind an ILC is similar to a lifeboat in a ship. A lifeboat is a boat carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard a ship. In case of an ILC it is attached to a space ship.

A Futuristic Space Ship

NASA has been experimenting with X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) which can carry 8 persons back to Earth. More about that is in link 7.

Lets see what parts an ISLB is made of (see picture 1).

1) Portable Life Suppoort System (PLSS), space suit, space man (or a doll for testing)
2) Seat pan, seat belts and the support for side packs and RCS jets.
3) Inflatable heat shield IHS or HIAD (See IRVE 3 for an example)
4) Parachute System (See BRS Parachutes for an example)
5) RCS fuel packs including RCS jets on both sides, not shown, similar to pack 4 (see picture 4 for details)

Picture 1: Initial condition - a space man needs to be rescued to Earth

The sequence from space to Earth is shown in pictures 1 to 7.

When a space man needs a transport to Earth he first takes the ILC out of its container (picture 1). Then he binds him self to the seat pan with seat belts and moves it to some distance from the vehicle (picture 2).

Picture 2: Fasten seat belts.

Now he inflates the heat shield (or HIAD) (picture 3.). At the same time the parachute system (under legs) and fuel packs (on both sides) turn to their reentry position.

Picture 3: Inflate the heat shield and turn side packs to their position. The parachute pack and 2 RCS fuel and jet packs will turn.

Before reenter you usually need to do some adjustment to your speed and/or attitude.  This is done by firing the RCS (Reaction Control System) jets as required (picture 4).

Picture 4: Start return - fire jets so that the attitude and speed is correct for the reentry. In this picture the fuel packs with RCS jets are shown. There are 4 jets altogether. To go "forward" you fire all 4 jets at the same time.

Now starts the reentry phase which may take some time (picture 5.

Picture 5: Reentry - during reentry keep the attitude using RCS jets.

During the reentry period the ILC must be kept in right attitude and stabilized (not spinning etc.). The atmospheric drag will take care of the deceleration which is relative to the size of the HIAD and weight of the whole space lifeboat and its passenger.

Picture 6: Shoot the parachute - at some low altitude open the parachute so that the landing is smooth.

At 25000 meters or so the parachute is shot out of its container (see PRS Parachutes video for an example) (picture 6).

Picture 7: Splashdown - activate the radio beacon to be sea rescued

Splashdown should be rather smooth since a real parachute is used for the final phase (picture 7). The IRVE-3 test for an example did not use any parachute at the final phase and had higher speed at the end. One possibility might be to use a bit larger shield (HIAD) and use that partially as a parachute and have somewhat harder splashdown compared to the parachute version.

Note that in case of stormy sea the PLSS should be able to support the life for some time even under water. Hopefully until the rescue is made. And the HIAD of course keeps the lifeboat floated.

An inflatable life raft is very similar to an ILC.

Here is the flat ILC or space lifeboat and its parts again in 3-view.

Inflatable Space Lifeboat

Here is a typical life raft open sequence which is very much similar but of course the device is more simple since it only have to handle the on Earth environment.

Typical on Earth life raft open sequence.

RESOURCES:

/1/ YouTube inflatable heat shield NASA IRVE

/2/ Shootable parachutes BRS Aviation

/3/ Wikipedia PLSS and space suits

/4/ Wikipedia Atmospheric reentry and Skip reentry

/5/ YouTube HIAD video

/6/ MIT/NASA Science Reporter video: PLSS Part

/7/ YouTube Video: NASA X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV)

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