VS (FIN & Rudder) Sailing Performance
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from SaturnV:
LNP @ 2.58.8'N 30.35.4'W
VS sighted June 6 @ 13h38 @ 3.61N 30.62W
VS recovered June 7 @ 18h35 @ 3.47N 30.68W
[unquote]
Just to point out that the quoted positions appear to be defined as follows:
LNP (LKP) position is in degrees/minutes/decimals-of-minutes.
However, VS positions are in degrees/decimals-of-degrees.
VS (fin) posn June06/1338: N03.61/W030.62 º N03°36.6'/W030°37.2'
VS (fin) posn June07/1835: N03.47/W030.68 º N03°28.2'/W030°40.8'
I don't know how accurate the "sighted" position would have been, but here goes the number-crunching. (Not sure if the VS position-timings are GMT, but that doesn't affect the issue.)
In roughly 29 hrs, 6 days after the accident, the VS apparently moved
9.1 nm (16.9 km) on mean TRK 203°T
Taken on face value, this may support mm43's suggestion that:
"the rudder aspect was such that the V/S was quite capable of "sailing" away..."
Others may comment on wind and current.
In case it's of interest:
VS (fin) recovery position, relative to LKP (N02°58.8'/W030°35.4), is
29.9 nm (55.4 km) BRG 350°T
Chris
Last edited by Chris Scott; 22nd Apr 2011 at 00:36.
Reason: (1) PS (Caveat). (2) PS now deleted.