from Hacker News

How to Land the Space Shuttle from Space [video]

by cyrusmg on 1/19/17, 10:54 AM with 21 comments

  • by satysin on 1/19/17, 1:12 PM

    That guy is a very good presenter IMHO. Amusing but not overly so, engaging and made great use of visuals.
  • by joekrill on 1/19/17, 3:03 PM

    This was great! I love coming across great, short talks like this that elaborate on a very interesting problem that laypeople like myself would never otherwise have even known existed.
  • by dingaling on 1/19/17, 11:29 AM

    Accordingly Shuttle pilots and commanders are honorary members of the WWII Glider Pilots' Association. Mach 14 or 80 knots, it's the same principle!
  • by danbruc on 1/19/17, 3:10 PM

    What surprised me the most, the difference between being in orbit and starting to reenter is only 362 km/h but it takes a three minute burn to decelerate which I guess is a 0.5mv² thing with big m and huge v.

    EDIT: My intuition was wrong, this has nothing to do with a large kinetic energy due to a large velocity.

  • by tonylemesmer on 1/19/17, 11:35 AM

    TLDR seriously impressive stats given in an engaging, amusing, rapid fire talk by Bret Copeland, pilot
  • by azdle on 1/19/17, 4:55 PM

    If I wanted to make a presentation like that what tools would I need to use? That was way more engaging than a powerpoint presentation. It almost seems like an animated video that pauses itself rather than a slideshow.