3 ms·
>Solar energy is "free", asteroids are "free". The rocket equation says that if you want to do anything besides sitting in one place, it's super expensive. Mov
by 6gvONxR4sf7o 7y ago
>Solar energy is "free", asteroids are "free".
The rocket equation says that if you want to do anything besides sitting in one place, it's super expensive. Moving mass around requires throwing huge amounts of mass away.
- Jwarder 7y agoMy understanding is that it depends on how common/accessible water is in asteroids. If there is a source of water then it can be split into hydrogen and oxygen for "free" using solar power. Throwing rockets' worth of water away seems wasteful, but if we have it then it isn't that expensive.
- zipwitch 7y agoOr very small amounts of mass and a whole lot of time.
- bdamm 7y agoI think you mean velocity. Lots of velocity.