Armadillo is a private company specializing on space crafts and other hi-fi stuff. Google on the name to get to their website. Here are few of the videos from experiments on lunar lander competition. More interesting videos on their website.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWUyRiiG4-I&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqFYFeCeHbk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhxEKEYmXEw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhn_FtlcxjQ&feature=related

wow this stuff is great   may be by the time i touch 100 i might be able to see star trek kinda stuff for real  

Wonder what will happen if something (say a good amount of wind) tilts the craft a little too much, causing it to lose its equilibrium.  Right now, it seems to be all gyroscopic adjustments to the thruster at the bottom.

Quote from: anwar on September 07, 2009, 11:11:15 PM
Wonder what will happen if something (say a good amount of wind) tilts the craft a little too much, causing it to lose its equilibrium.  Right now, it seems to be all gyroscopic adjustments to the thruster at the bottom.

The video link should answer your concerns -> http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/2009_04_21/2009_04_21_Methane_hover_tug-o-war_test.wmv

Basically, its a tug off war between a man and the rocket in hover. See how the rocket manages to acheive its balance by providing counter thrust to the man's pull.

I have just one word to say - "INCREDIBLE!!"

-Ismail

A good enough pull at the end did cause it to lose its balance. But you are right, it is dang cool !

http://spacefellowship.com/2009/09/13/armadillo-aerospace-claim-level-2-ngllc-prize/comment-page-1/