# Could you launch a really risk taking human into LEO and back using pegasus?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 12, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457 "2012-09-12T01:12:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/1 "2012-09-12T01:12:20Z")
So, pegasus can insert 443 kilograms into LEO.
Let’s assume that the human weighs 80kg. That gives 363kg to play with.
Assume no retrorockets so the thing just uses orbital decay to get down (and in fact cause of this we probably have another 30kg to play with). Could you design a super minimal craft capable of that? I see the following as necessary:
(a) some, probably aerodynamic, means of stabalising the craft’s orientation during reentry - optional but would help with:
(b) a heat shield just sufficient for this one re entry
© some kind of parachute that would slow the vehicle down enough in the atmosphere such that at 10 000 feet (say) and 300 knots (say), as verified by instruments you’re also going to have to include…
(d)… the thing can be split apart in mid air so the human can jump out…
(e)… which implies a parachute as well
Obviously this is not a sensible or safe means of space travel but is it do able at all? How much oxygen is the person going to need and does the CO2 need venting?
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### Author:  [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/2 "2012-09-12T01:43:29Z")
The Mercury capsule had an orbital weight of 1,355, which is significantly more than a pegasus can launch. But if you don’t care about safety, maybe you can reduce that a bit.
[MOOSE](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOOSE) only weighed 90kg. That included an inflatable heatshield, reentry rockets, and a parachute, but not the weight of the astronaut or spacesuit. You could probably launch MOOSE, and a person in a spacesuit, with pegasus, assuming you can find someone daring enough.
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### Author:  [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/3 "2012-09-12T01:56:54Z")
Well, you could squeeze an astronaut in a spacesuit into the nose, and he could re-enter using something like the [MOOSE](http://www.astronautix.com/craft/moose.htm) system. But yeah you’d probably need some additional life support (I don’t think the suit alone would be able to operate long enough for the whole mission).
According to[this page](http://www.space.com/15436-pegasus-carried-b52.html) the first stage accelerates the Pegasus from the cruising speed of the B-52 to 5000 MPH in 76 seconds. That’s an average og only about three Gs (Did I calculate that right?). If so that’s not to bad.
Damn it, I spent too long googling references and fixing spelling. AndrewL beat me to it. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/4 "2012-09-12T12:41:23Z")
I’m confused. You’re launching people into a Law Enforcement Officer?
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### Author:  [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/5 "2012-09-12T12:46:33Z")
> [@Khadaji](#):
>
> You’re launching people into a Law Enforcement Officer?
Sounds like a smart plan - escape velocity is considerably lower.
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### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/6 "2012-09-12T12:50:27Z")
Hah! Well played.
Joking aside, LEO stands for “low earth orbit”, basically juuust enough above the atmosphere so that drag doesn’t (immediately) stop you from orbiting.
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### Author:  [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/7 "2012-09-12T12:55:14Z")
Who’s disappointed this thread isn’t about spacegoing winged horses?
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### Author:  [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/8 "2012-09-12T13:08:48Z")
I’m just thrilled to learn about the balls-out-crazy MOOSE reentry system. Want to get out of orbit in an emergency? Climb in this garbage bag and fill it with expanding foam! What more could you want? Ok, we’ll add a quarter inch thick layer of rubber for a “heat shield”, and I guess you should have a parachute. If you really must insist on steering, you can carry your own hand-held rocket.
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### Author:  [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/9 "2012-09-12T13:55:14Z")
It worked for Bellerophon.
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### Author:  [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/10 "2012-09-12T14:57:47Z")
How far have light-weight materials come since the Mercury program? I’m just mildly curious how heavy a Mercury capsule would be with modern lightweight materials (of course, it’s entirely possible that modern lightweight materials were originally developed for things like the Mercury program and the answer would be “A bit less because radios are lighter now.”)
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### Author:  [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/11 "2012-09-12T15:07:43Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#):
>
> Well, you could squeeze an astronaut in a spacesuit into the nose, and he could re-enter using something like the [MOOSE](http://www.astronautix.com/craft/moose.htm) system. But yeah you’d probably need some additional life support (I don’t think the suit alone would be able to operate long enough for the whole mission).
No reason to make the capsule a life-sustaining environment, when the suit can do the job. You’d just need an extra bottle of oxygen (and/or CO2 scrubber), maybe a battery, and a more absorbent diaper, all in place at launch time, to support a mission longer than an ordinary space suit can deal with.. The capsule only needs to provide aerodynamic shape during launch, and a suitable shape + thermal protection + parachute during reentry. Something close to MOOSE ought to do the job.
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### Author:  [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/12 "2012-09-12T15:09:56Z")
if you’re going to use MOOSE, you might as well use SQUIRREL - I think its required even.
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### Author:  [@Santos\_L\_Halper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santos_L_Halper)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/13 "2012-09-12T16:03:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#):
>
> No reason to make the capsule a life-sustaining environment, when the suit can do the job. You’d just need an extra bottle of oxygen (and/or CO2 scrubber), maybe a battery, and a more absorbent diaper, all in place at launch time, to support a mission longer than an ordinary space suit can deal with.. The capsule only needs to provide aerodynamic shape during launch, and a suitable shape + thermal protection + parachute during reentry. Something close to MOOSE ought to do the job.
That’s what I meant. The astronaut would be in his suit, but would need additional oxygen beyond what the suit alone would be able to carry.
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### Author:  [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/14 "2012-09-12T16:05:23Z")
> [@simster](#):
>
> if you’re going to use MOOSE, you might as well use SQUIRREL - I think its required even.
As I recall the MOOSE was used to launch the SQUIRREL.
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### Author:  [@AndrewL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndrewL)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/15 "2012-09-12T16:07:33Z")
> [@Santos\_L\_Halper](#):
>
> That’s what I meant. The astronaut would be in his suit, but would need additional oxygen beyond what the suit alone would be able to carry.
We can assume that the astronaut’s suit includes a [PLSS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_Life_Support_System). That’s good for about 8 hours of oxygen supply, carbon dioxide removal, and temperature control. An [EVA suit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extravehicular_Mobility_Unit)with PLSS included weighs about 50kg.
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### Author:  [@jharvey963](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jharvey963)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/16 "2012-09-12T16:58:10Z")
> [@simster](#):
>
> if you’re going to use MOOSE, you might as well use SQUIRREL - I think its required even.
You owe me a new keyboard! :D:D:D
J.
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### Author:  [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/17 "2012-09-12T19:55:52Z")
> [@gazpacho](#):
>
> As I recall the MOOSE was used to launch the SQUIRREL.
Aren’t the jokes Badanov already?
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### Author:  [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/18 "2012-09-12T20:10:24Z")
> [@naita](#):
>
> Who’s disappointed this thread isn’t about spacegoing winged horses?
I am. I had visions of a winged horse flying me to the constellation Leo for some adventure.
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### Author:  [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/19 "2012-09-12T21:28:07Z")
Couldn’t you just feed the pegasus enough hay or whatever it eats so that it can fly up there?
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### Author:  [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)
#### Post date: [September 12, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-launch-a-really-risk-taking-human-into-leo-and-back-using-pegasus/634457/20 "2012-09-12T21:32:39Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> Couldn’t you just feed the pegasus enough hay or whatever it eats so that it can fly up there?
Nope. The more he eats, the fatter he gets. ☹