An experimental investigation was made of the skid-rocker landing characteristics of two dynamic models of proposed reentry vehicles. A "belly-landing" technique in which the vehicle was caused to skid and rock on its curved lower surface (heat shield) in order to convert sinking-speed energy into angular energy was investigated on a hard-surface runway for speed ranges that might be encountered with the use of a paraglide letdown system. Several landings were also made in calm water. Landing motions and acceleration data were obtained over a range of landing attitudes, horizontal velocities, and vertical velocities. Turnover stability limits for various center-of-gravity locations were determined for hard-surface landings. A brief experimental study was made of the effect of a small edge-mounted shock absorber on accelerations and rocking motions.
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