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Don’t all lunar journeys start with a low earth orbit? Couldn’t you launch into LEO a week or two before hand, then do the lunar assist at the proper time, elim
by midasuni 4y ago
Don’t all lunar journeys start with a low earth orbit? Couldn’t you launch into LEO a week or two before hand, then do the lunar assist at the proper time, eliminating the delay concerns of launching from the ground (weather etc)
Or will the fuel needed to boost to escape velocity boil off over the wait?
- lmm 4y ago> Don’t all lunar journeys start with a low earth orbit? No, at least they don't have to. It's more efficient to boost directly into an orbit that's eccentric enough to bring you close to the moon, if you started from LEO you'd lose a lot of the gains. > Or will the fuel needed to boost to escape velocity boil off over the wait? No, but relighting an engine is a relatively high risk procedure, so it only makes sense if the gains are large.