Talk:Reentry capsule

Launch abort system

Can anyone expand this article to describe how the launch abort system (LAS) works for spacecraft with this style reentry capsule? Is it correct that the crew are located in the reentry capsule during launch? And the capsule is sandwiched between the orbital module and service module in the stack? Does the entire spacecraft get transported away from a malfunctioning launch vehicle? Or is the orbital module blown off so the capsule can get away? Or are the crew ejected from the capsule? (sdsds - talk) 02:15, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

Let me see if I can try to explain it. When the LAS fires, it takes the shroud (or at least part of it), the orbital module, and the re-entry capsule with it. Four petals extend on the exterior of the shroud for stability. The re-entry capsule falls away and lands safely. Althoguh, I am not sure this is 100% correct. Andy120290 02:37, 12 July 2007 (UTC)

US

The US also has a module used for reentry, the Command Module of Apollo, this article should be rewritten. 02:25, 28 September 2008 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.55.203.112 (talk)

Ditto here, on top of that it seems strange that a yet-to-be-used capsule would have just as much description as the Soyuz, much of the information infact being non-specific to the capsule as well. Striker121 (talk) 06:09, 14 March 2013 (UTC)

Current designs

Shouldn't this section include at least SpaceX crew dragon capsule which has flown with a crew? Eventually perhaps adding other capsules as they are have a crewed launch. AmigaClone (talk) 17:06, 17 November 2020 (UTC)

What should be in the "List of re-entry capsules"?

So, i've got a few questions, mostly inspired by discrepancies.

1) Should yet-to-be-flown capsulesbe included, or should they only be added after their first flight? India's non-flown Gaganyaan is included, but no others (like China's "Next-generation crewed spacecraft" or Russia's Orel have been

2) Should spaceplanes/lifting bodies be allowed? ESA's lifting body "IXV" has been included, but other spaceplanes like Buran and X-37b are not.

3) What about Starship? As it is basically unique, it doesn't really fit into any categories neatly. Is it a spaceplane/lifting body due to it's aerodynamic control surfaces, or is it a capsule due to not being able to land on a runway, or what?

My proposition is this: The list is split in two, one for already-flown capsules and one for capsules in development. A capsule counts as already-flown when it has re-entered from orbit or beyond. Also, the distiction between "Spaceplane" and "Capsule" is whether it can land on a runway. If it uses a parafoil to aid a runway landing, it counts as a plane, so X-38/ACRV and Space Rider would not count. Starship lands on a pad not a runway, so it would count as a capsule. Cancelled capsules also wouldn't count.

What do people think? I am going to leave this for two week until the 15th of may, and then if there have no responses I shall implement my idea. Until then, I will remove Gaganyaan and add capsules, but not lifting bodies or spaceplanes. (But not remove IXV).

Edit: Whoops! I completely forgot about this. I'm going to make the changes later today (2022-05-22), but I am still open to objections. SqueakSquawk4 (talk) 00:47, 30 April 2022 (UTC)

Key hole and other spy satellites

How should the Key Hole spy satellite series be counted in the "List of re-entry capsules"? I've added each film-based KH seperately (Exception: KH-1 through KH-4 is all counted as CORONA), but it feels like there are too many. Are the re-entry capsules similar enough to ba lumped together?

However, I have clumped all the Zenit and Yantar satellite variants together (As I know more about KH than Zenit/Yantar) Is this okay?

Also, if they aren't clumped together, should spy satellites be grouped seperately? Again, it feels like there are a lot and the list is getting a bit cluttered.

Any thoughts about this, or my overhaul of the "List of re-entry capsule" in general?SqueakSquawk4 (talk) 11:34, 25 May 2022 (UTC)