3 ms·
There are many asteroids in so-called near-Earth orbits, with nearly zero delta-V (beyond Earth escape) to reach them and return to Earth. The delta-V is even l
by DavidSJ 11y ago
There are many asteroids in so-called near-Earth orbits, with nearly zero delta-V (beyond Earth escape) to reach them and return to Earth. The delta-V is even less than an insertion into lunar orbit.
Mostly it's just a matter of being patient and letting the orbits phase, given the right nudge.
(Also, note that delta-V is not thrust. Delta-V is a change in velocity, thrust is force.)
- InvisibleCities 11y ago>Also, note that delta-V is not thrust. Delta-V is a change in velocity, thrust is force.) Thanks for the condescending reply. Seeing as I have a degree in Physics, I am well aware of the technical difference between thrust and delta-v. However, when talking about rocketry, it's hard to have delta-v without corresponding thrust, and my usage of both terms was more for rhetoric than a desire for absolute technical correctness.
- DavidSJ 11y agoWasn't trying to be condescending, but the reason I mention it is that in rocketry, the required thrust is very different (not linearly proportional, I mean) from required delta-V, especially in deep space missions where you have lots of time to do your burns.
- douche 11y agoThis really makes me want to play Kerbal Space program again, to see if they have added asteroids, or if I can build a rocket big enough to go to one of the smaller moons, and nudge it into different orbit...
- fit2rule 11y agoImagine we have a particle-assembly device which we can trustily feed raw components and out comes planned assemblies. We could call this thing, a "3D printer" because it allows us to print things but in this particular case its literally the best 3D printer in the known universe, because: it recycles everything it prints. So, we have this ideal device, and we send it up to one of these asteroids, in some form of redundancy of course (i.e. there is more than one ideal device, rather now a fleet of them), and the first thing that happens is that the fleet duplicates itself. Then, we have the ability to remotely send print jobs, some sort of .. inter-spacial network of some variety or brand or another .. whereby anyone on Good Ol'^WNew Earth can send something to the print queue. If the job is printable (it is/will be) then the asteroid is consumed, bit-by-bit. These bits fly themselves back to Earth for use. OR! They fly themselves somewhere else in space, for use ... Okay, I think I'm getting a nice video game idea from this article at least. Time for some science!