Reentry viewing

[Dfthu]

Since we have only seen reentry form the a capsule or from far away i suggest a idea to see it up close. Send 2 Cubesats with heat shields and and have one with a camera. Have one Cubesat go in front of the second Cubesat Then point towards the other Cubesat during reentry. You could put the camera in a strong box with a parachute. (P.S I know nothing about reentry so sorry if i'm wrong)

[Sampa]

I am not so sure it would be a good idea. The stress alone would be hard enough, let alone the fact that, no matter what, the satellite will be in comunications blackout.

[Hcube]

Since we have only seen reentry form the a capsule or from far away i suggest a idea to see it up close. Send 2 Cubesats with heat shields and and have one with a camera. Have one Cubesat go in front of the second Cubesat Then point towards the other Cubesat during reentry. You could put the camera in a strong box with a parachute. (P.S I know nothing about reentry so sorry if i'm wrong)

You're gonna have trouble maintaining the camera pointed at the other cubesat. Cubesats are, well, cubic and it's not a very stable thing aerodynamically. I'm no expert but i think that they would both tumble chaotically.

Also, a cubesats with an heatshield filming another cubesat... What's the point ?

[Motokid600]

Your saying you want a close 3rd person view like we get paying KSP? Its just not feasible. Or needed. We get all the data we need just by first person views and distant 3rd person views on top of all the telemetry we get. Itd be almost impossible to keep the camera pointed to the target and youd see nothing. Just the blinding light of the plasma.

One thing I do want to see in the future is the views inside a returning cargo craft just before breakup. Theres been talk of doing this iirc. Just need a satellite above the craft capturing the communications seeing is how anything below the craft is in blackout.

Edited November 8, 2015 by Motokid600

[Sampa]

Yeah, I think only the shuttle was able to stay in communications throughout the entire reentry.

[RainDreamer]

I think we just need telescope (either on ground or on space) with faster tracking capability, then zoom in reaaal close and manage to track the whole thing. There is no need for the observer to reentry along with the object. And if you ever play KSP and have 2 things reentry close to each other, you know how dangerous it is if one thing somehow flew off path and hit the other at that speed.