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We also have to consider the thickness of the atmosphere. I presume a planet with 1.5x the radius of Earth and 3x the gravity would have an atmosphere that is f
by BuyMyBitcoins 3y ago
We also have to consider the thickness of the atmosphere. I presume a planet with 1.5x the radius of Earth and 3x the gravity would have an atmosphere that is far more thick and any rocket would have to contend with a significant amount of drag.
Plus, if it would take something like a Saturn V just to put the mass of a potato into low orbit I could easily envision an extraterrestrial civilization thinking it wasn’t worth the cost to try.
- zardo 3y ago> I presume a planet with 1.5x the radius of Earth and 3x the gravity would have an atmosphere that is far more thick and any rocket would have to contend with a significant amount of drag. I'm sure that's true holding all else the same, but all else isn't the same. Maybe it's airless due to stronger stellar winds.
- deepsun 3y agoActually, the atmospheric drag is not a big challenge. Yes, it is a consideration of course, hence the payload fairing etc, but much larger problem going to orbit is getting speed. That's why it doesn't really help much to launch rockets from a balloon -- getting there is not a problem.