10 m Heat Shield Name Change

[Zosma Procyon]

Change the name of the "Heat Shield (10 m)" to "The Ballute".

[lrd.Helmet]

It is a heatshield. Why would you want to change its name?

[Pthigrivi]

Well I think Zosma is right that Ballute is technically correct. Its not ablating, its just huge amounts of surface area to produce drag. Plus the deployment mechanic is different than the other straight up heat shields. I can dig this suggestion.

[Temeter]

Why should it require ablator to be named that way, tho? In general heat shields are surfaces to produce drag while protecting a capsule behind it. The inflating is mostly a trick to get more drag and a better ballistic coeffcient.

Even NASA calls it an inflatable heatshield, so tbh I don't think there is much discussion to be had:

http://www.nasa.gov/feature/langley/nasa-tests-inflatable-heat-shield-technology-for-deep-space-missions

EDIT: Reminds me, the space shuttles heat shield wasn't ablative either.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Temeter

[Whirligig Girl]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a ballute specifically referring to a balloon that is both buoyant and drag-producing?

[Streetwind]

12 minutes ago, GregroxMun said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a ballute specifically referring to a balloon that is both buoyant and drag-producing?

You're right. The word "ballute" is a portmanteau of "balloon" and "parachute". It has a fixed meaning, and "heat-resistant plate that doesn't ablate" is not it.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Streetwind

[Pthigrivi]

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20060005185.pdf

Ahh, I see, the difference seems to be whether it trails the main body of the spacecraft. Honestly I just like Ballute cause its fun to say haha

Edit:

All ballutes are inflatable decelerators but not all inflatable decelerators are ballutes. Some heat shields are inflatable decelerators, but no ballutes are heat shields. 

Edit edit:

I think we need some ven diagrams up in this piece.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Pthigrivi

[Temeter]

20 minutes ago, Pthigrivi said:

http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20060005185.pdf

Ahh, I see, the difference seems to be whether it trails the main body of the spacecraft. Honestly I just like Ballute cause its fun to say haha

Edit:

All ballutes are inflatable decelerators but not all inflatable decelerators are ballutes. Some heat shields are inflatable, but no ballutes are heat shields. 

So ballutes are practically 'parachutes' for reentry. That's interesting, could be quite helpful in KSP. Inflatable heatshields are incredibly usefull, but limit construction.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Temeter

[Streetwind]

They are generally used to pull the actual chutes out of storage, and as such, are small (think beachball-sized). Their own drag does not significantly slow the spacecraft.

[nikokespprfan]

On 21-4-2016 at 4:13 PM, Temeter said:

So ballutes are practically 'parachutes' for reentry. That's interesting, could be quite helpful in KSP. Inflatable heatshields are incredibly usefull, but limit construction.

Well, if you want some, there is a mod you can get for it.

(Yes, it is still 1.0.5, I don't know whether it still works in 1.1.0.)

Edited April 26, 2016 by nikokespprfan

[Temeter]

29 minutes ago, nikokespprfan said:

Well, if you want some, there is a mod you can get for it.

(Yes, it is still 1.0.5, I don't know whether it still works in 1.1.0.)

Ah thanks! Thought there was a mod for it, but didn't see it for a long time. Gotta wait for update tho. Tried 1.1 and never gonna go back. :^)