Re: Tugs & Firing Arcs

>> Terrestial trains can be miles long, why couldn't tugs tow
kilometer-long
>> strings of barges?
>
>Terrestrial trains have rails to keep them together. They also have 
>airbrakes taht activate all along the train length in addition to the 
>Dynamic Braking system in the Locos. 
>
>Terrestrial Tugs may tow a set of barges all lashed together, but
usually 
>they will push those from the rear where they can use vectored thrust 
>(the rudder) to steer them through the water. Space doesn't have the 
>hydrodynamic properties of water (a long thin object is happy moving 
>sideways as well as straight) so that rear ended unit isn't as
effective 
>in steerage. Think of the physics.
>
>Lash a bunch of castored plates (castors on all four wheels) together
end 
>to end with play. Then pull them along. Now slow down suddenly. Good
luck 
>getting them all to stop. The Tug is going to have to have a Hard 
>connection to those items. Any flexible connection will be a pain in
the ass.

Fine. In addition to the other suggestions given (additional
engines/thrusters
on barges, either end of space freight train, etc), why not make the
barges
themselves kilometers long?  :-)  Save on that 'flexible connection' a
bit,
no?  :-)  And allow you to pack more into one container. (however,
losing
one container to pirates would hurt; where's your optimum 'cut-off'
point
for length of cargo pod/barge vs risk to being lost to some situation?)

(note: it was a rhetorical question, but feel free to answer if it you
want :)

Mk
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