4 ms·
Refueling for what? The realities of orbital dynamics mean that Mars isn’t a convenient stopping place on the way to say, the outer solar system. I don’t have
by eunoia 5y ago
Refueling for what? The realities of orbital dynamics mean that Mars isn’t a convenient stopping place on the way to say, the outer solar system. I don’t have the numbers in my head but the delta-v requirements to intercept, match velocity and land negate any potential refueling benefit in my understanding. (Not to mention the added complexity vs a straight shot, this is a lot to pull off even in a sim like KSP)
You might be able to make an argument for refueling bases on Mar’s tiny moons with their negligible gravity wells for Martian missions themselves but that’s about all I can see.
What am I missing?
- R0b0t1 5y agoYou're not missing much, but orbital transfer hooks from Mar's moons work out.
- dylan604 5y agoBut what if you built a base there that continuously flung refueling pods into orbit? Make these pods leave orbit to rendezvous with another craft somewhere else rather than the craft needing fuel to come to a stop on Mars.