Author Topic: Warning... (Read 2066 times)

Dowding · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2003, 03:59:36 PM »

Remember kids: Physics is FUN!

Skuzzy · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:03:00 PM »

I quit counting. It is still running.

Hortlund · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:04:56 PM »

Mine is still there too.

Now it will be decided by who can keep his computer running the longest

Hortlund · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:05:47 PM »

but the HARD part is to get it to do a figure 8 around the earth and moon...

Skuzzy · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:10:12 PM »

Ok,..i got a new one running. It's orbit keeps it off the map most of the time and encompasses both the earth and moon.

10 laps so far.

Figure 8 is a good one Hortlund.

funkedup · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:15:14 PM »

If you make a real fast orbit close to earth they will last a long time. Also as Skuzzy discovered, when you make an orbit go out very far, the moon and the earth start to act as one body and it's a simpler problem. You had just better hope the moon is in the right spot when it comes back in though.

funkedup · « **Reply #21 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:17:10 PM »

Try getting one to orbit the moon.

Hortlund · « **Reply #22 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:19:27 PM »

Is that really possible? Around the moon I mean?

funkedup · « **Reply #23 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:21:03 PM »

Apollo did it.

Hortlund · « **Reply #24 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:24:43 PM »

Yeah but didnt they have some sort of invention aboard that gave them the ability to move around in space?

Tarmac · « **Reply #25 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:26:12 PM »

NOOOO!

It's gone. He lasted somewhere around 33-35 minutes, give or take a minute or two.

4:52 to 5:27?

Time to start another...

Tarmac · « **Reply #26 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:27:07 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hortlund
Yeah but didnt they have some sort of invention aboard that gave them the ability to move around in space?

Of course, Apollo had a whole freaking Battlestar.

midnight Target · « **Reply #27 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:28:09 PM »

Now I officially hate you Steve... work must wait.. I have 5 going now.

Wlfgng · « **Reply #28 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:29:36 PM »

bastards!!! I was so close to getting work done too..

funkedup · « **Reply #29 on:** July 02, 2003, 04:29:37 PM »

They had enough fuel to shift between orbits but not much more than that, so trajectory is primarly determined by their initial velocity leaving the atmosphere. The optimal trajectory (from a fuel consumption/weight standpoint) is the one where you make the least amount of corrections with your motors. So maneuvering a spacecraft is pretty much the same as maneuvering an unpowered satellite.

Ideally you only use motors to:
1. Leave the atmosphere.
2. Correct errors in your flight path caused by the difference between real life and your calculations.
3. Shift between stable trajectories.