3 ms·
> The beginnings of trips are going to be slow even if the end is not. Endings too. You cannot just slow down. No brakes in space. And if your engine is low th
by dmitrygr 6y ago
> The beginnings of trips are going to be slow even if the end is not.
Endings too. You cannot just slow down. No brakes in space. And if your engine is low thrust, you'll need a while to slow down too, unless your goal is kinetic impact unto your target.
- dragonwriter 6y ago> You cannot just slow down. If you engineer to survive it, aero- and even litho-braking are alternatives where you can “just” slow down, without using onboard reaction mass.
- Zanni 6y agoThank you for introducing me to "lithobraking." What a wonderful euphemism for "crashing into the planet" (albeit a controlled crash, or, as you say, engineered for survival).
- JPLeRouzic 6y agoIsn't what a plane is doing while landing on the airstrip?
- JPLeRouzic 6y agoSo in the worst case the average speed is half of the maximum speed. Still something attractive.