Could a rocket use wings in the stages?












2














Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?



Could the stages reduce splashdown impact forces by using a spinning seedpod-like design (as shown in the image below)?



enter image description here Source: Keith Blenman blogpost



enter image description here Source: Wikimedia



enter image description here



Source: xairforces.net



After what point are wings not useful on the number of rocket stages, size or weight?






rockets artificial-satellite engine-design aerodynamics stages







share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
    – Alex Hajnal
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
    – Alex Hajnal
    3 hours ago






  • 2




    @AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    @AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
    – uhoh
    1 hour ago


















2














Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?



Could the stages reduce splashdown impact forces by using a spinning seedpod-like design (as shown in the image below)?



enter image description here Source: Keith Blenman blogpost



enter image description here Source: Wikimedia



enter image description here



Source: xairforces.net



After what point are wings not useful on the number of rocket stages, size or weight?






rockets artificial-satellite engine-design aerodynamics stages







share|improve this question




















  • 2




    Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
    – Alex Hajnal
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
    – Alex Hajnal
    3 hours ago






  • 2




    @AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    @AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
    – uhoh
    1 hour ago
















2












2








2







Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?



Could the stages reduce splashdown impact forces by using a spinning seedpod-like design (as shown in the image below)?



enter image description here Source: Keith Blenman blogpost



enter image description here Source: Wikimedia



enter image description here



Source: xairforces.net



After what point are wings not useful on the number of rocket stages, size or weight?






rockets artificial-satellite engine-design aerodynamics stages







share|improve this question















Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?



Could the stages reduce splashdown impact forces by using a spinning seedpod-like design (as shown in the image below)?



enter image description here Source: Keith Blenman blogpost



enter image description here Source: Wikimedia



enter image description here



Source: xairforces.net



After what point are wings not useful on the number of rocket stages, size or weight?






rockets artificial-satellite engine-design aerodynamics stages




rockets artificial-satellite engine-design aerodynamics stages






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 14 mins ago









uhoh

34.4k17117430




34.4k17117430










asked 4 hours ago









Muze

1,8181055




1,8181055








  • 2




    Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
    – Alex Hajnal
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
    – Alex Hajnal
    3 hours ago






  • 2




    @AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    @AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
    – uhoh
    1 hour ago
















  • 2




    Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
    – Alex Hajnal
    4 hours ago






  • 1




    X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago






  • 1




    I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
    – Alex Hajnal
    3 hours ago






  • 2




    @AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
    – Russell Borogove
    3 hours ago








  • 1




    @AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
    – uhoh
    1 hour ago










2




2




Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
– Alex Hajnal
4 hours ago




Kindly attribute all images and quotes. Thanks!
– Alex Hajnal
4 hours ago




1




1




X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago




X-37 is under a fairing during the atmospheric portion of ascent, getting no lift from its wings; it does a gliding reentry and landing like the space shuttle.
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago




1




1




I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
– Alex Hajnal
3 hours ago




I believe that's the X-37's orbital module (propulsion, consumables, etc.). It's odd that it would have wings too; I suspect the reason for having them (like much surrounding the X-37) is classified. Also, can you please provide image citations?
– Alex Hajnal
3 hours ago




2




2




@AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago






@AlexHajnal The X-37 is one piece, not separate modules; the forward surfaces are wings, the aft are a V-tail.
– Russell Borogove
3 hours ago






1




1




@AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
– uhoh
1 hour ago






@AlexHajnal et al. pics of X-37 after landing here help illustrate that the two tail fins in the back (bottom in this view) are not coplanar, but are pointing towards us, or "out of the page" in this view. (my awkward way of saying "V-tail")
– uhoh
1 hour ago












2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















7















Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?




Wings on the first stage can be useful; the Pegasus air-launched rocket has wings on its first stage that provide some lift.



In most cases wings aren't worth using on orbital launchers; they add drag and weight that usually isn't compensated for by lift. Wings on upper stages are very unlikely to be beneficial.






share|improve this answer





























    4














    Though it seems noöne has spun an entire rocket stage to slow it, something has similar has been tried. The long-defunct Rotary Rocket company was developing the Roton™ reüsable single-state-to-orbit launcher that would use helicopter-like blades to slow and land. A bit more info on it can be found on Wikipedia.



    Roton booster
    Alan Radecki via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0



    Not present in the photo above, the rotor blades were attached to the dome at the top and folded flush against the fuselage during ascent. After reënty, the blades would fold to a horizontal orientation and be spun up (I believe) using thrusters on the blade tips (the cap and blades would spin and the fuselage would stay stationary). The craft would then fly as a helicopter to a controlled landing.



    There are some much better images here (under "Photo Gallery" and "Image Gallery") but they don't appear licensed for reüse.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 1




      Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
      – leftaroundabout
      2 hours ago












    • @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
      – Alex Hajnal
      1 hour ago











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    2 Answers
    2






    active

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    7















    Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?




    Wings on the first stage can be useful; the Pegasus air-launched rocket has wings on its first stage that provide some lift.



    In most cases wings aren't worth using on orbital launchers; they add drag and weight that usually isn't compensated for by lift. Wings on upper stages are very unlikely to be beneficial.






    share|improve this answer


























      7















      Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?




      Wings on the first stage can be useful; the Pegasus air-launched rocket has wings on its first stage that provide some lift.



      In most cases wings aren't worth using on orbital launchers; they add drag and weight that usually isn't compensated for by lift. Wings on upper stages are very unlikely to be beneficial.






      share|improve this answer
























        7












        7








        7







        Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?




        Wings on the first stage can be useful; the Pegasus air-launched rocket has wings on its first stage that provide some lift.



        In most cases wings aren't worth using on orbital launchers; they add drag and weight that usually isn't compensated for by lift. Wings on upper stages are very unlikely to be beneficial.






        share|improve this answer













        Could a slower or smaller rocket take advantage of lift if all the stages had wings?




        Wings on the first stage can be useful; the Pegasus air-launched rocket has wings on its first stage that provide some lift.



        In most cases wings aren't worth using on orbital launchers; they add drag and weight that usually isn't compensated for by lift. Wings on upper stages are very unlikely to be beneficial.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 4 hours ago









        Russell Borogove

        82k2273355




        82k2273355























            4














            Though it seems noöne has spun an entire rocket stage to slow it, something has similar has been tried. The long-defunct Rotary Rocket company was developing the Roton™ reüsable single-state-to-orbit launcher that would use helicopter-like blades to slow and land. A bit more info on it can be found on Wikipedia.



            Roton booster
            Alan Radecki via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0



            Not present in the photo above, the rotor blades were attached to the dome at the top and folded flush against the fuselage during ascent. After reënty, the blades would fold to a horizontal orientation and be spun up (I believe) using thrusters on the blade tips (the cap and blades would spin and the fuselage would stay stationary). The craft would then fly as a helicopter to a controlled landing.



            There are some much better images here (under "Photo Gallery" and "Image Gallery") but they don't appear licensed for reüse.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
              – leftaroundabout
              2 hours ago












            • @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
              – Alex Hajnal
              1 hour ago
















            4














            Though it seems noöne has spun an entire rocket stage to slow it, something has similar has been tried. The long-defunct Rotary Rocket company was developing the Roton™ reüsable single-state-to-orbit launcher that would use helicopter-like blades to slow and land. A bit more info on it can be found on Wikipedia.



            Roton booster
            Alan Radecki via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0



            Not present in the photo above, the rotor blades were attached to the dome at the top and folded flush against the fuselage during ascent. After reënty, the blades would fold to a horizontal orientation and be spun up (I believe) using thrusters on the blade tips (the cap and blades would spin and the fuselage would stay stationary). The craft would then fly as a helicopter to a controlled landing.



            There are some much better images here (under "Photo Gallery" and "Image Gallery") but they don't appear licensed for reüse.






            share|improve this answer



















            • 1




              Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
              – leftaroundabout
              2 hours ago












            • @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
              – Alex Hajnal
              1 hour ago














            4












            4








            4






            Though it seems noöne has spun an entire rocket stage to slow it, something has similar has been tried. The long-defunct Rotary Rocket company was developing the Roton™ reüsable single-state-to-orbit launcher that would use helicopter-like blades to slow and land. A bit more info on it can be found on Wikipedia.



            Roton booster
            Alan Radecki via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0



            Not present in the photo above, the rotor blades were attached to the dome at the top and folded flush against the fuselage during ascent. After reënty, the blades would fold to a horizontal orientation and be spun up (I believe) using thrusters on the blade tips (the cap and blades would spin and the fuselage would stay stationary). The craft would then fly as a helicopter to a controlled landing.



            There are some much better images here (under "Photo Gallery" and "Image Gallery") but they don't appear licensed for reüse.






            share|improve this answer














            Though it seems noöne has spun an entire rocket stage to slow it, something has similar has been tried. The long-defunct Rotary Rocket company was developing the Roton™ reüsable single-state-to-orbit launcher that would use helicopter-like blades to slow and land. A bit more info on it can be found on Wikipedia.



            Roton booster
            Alan Radecki via Wikimedia Commons, GFDL / CC BY-SA 3.0



            Not present in the photo above, the rotor blades were attached to the dome at the top and folded flush against the fuselage during ascent. After reënty, the blades would fold to a horizontal orientation and be spun up (I believe) using thrusters on the blade tips (the cap and blades would spin and the fuselage would stay stationary). The craft would then fly as a helicopter to a controlled landing.



            There are some much better images here (under "Photo Gallery" and "Image Gallery") but they don't appear licensed for reüse.







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited 1 hour ago

























            answered 3 hours ago









            Alex Hajnal

            1,056313




            1,056313








            • 1




              Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
              – leftaroundabout
              2 hours ago












            • @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
              – Alex Hajnal
              1 hour ago














            • 1




              Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
              – leftaroundabout
              2 hours ago












            • @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
              – Alex Hajnal
              1 hour ago








            1




            1




            Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
            – leftaroundabout
            2 hours ago






            Naïvely speaking, I would think that the diæresis above the u in the word reüse doesn't help anybody pronounce it correctly and only reïnforces an impression that the poster may be a bit of a pretentious hypercorrectiïst™. But that's just a hypothesis...
            – leftaroundabout
            2 hours ago














            @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
            – Alex Hajnal
            1 hour ago




            @leftaroundabout Both forms are equally valid in English. If feel that the diæresis (to use an alternate spelling) plays a useful role and thus I often use it. I prefer to reserve hyphenation for certain compound words and the like.
            – Alex Hajnal
            1 hour ago


















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