RE: RE: [FT] Orbit and FT

Over the poles, you just have to use thrust to counteract the
acceleration
of gravity, so if you want to maintain an altitude of 2*radius of earth
about pole, you need to be able to use thrust that would provide 1/4 G.
(gravity goes as 1/r^2).  Not over the poles gets a little more
complicated because you have to counteract gravity and provide a
rotational velocity that matches the rotation below.  But with enough
thrust you can be place yourself anywhere in a powered orbit.

Randy Wolfmeyer

On Tue, 12 Mar 2002, Brian Bilderback wrote:

>
> Ok, again, how to simulate this in a scenario that calls for
Geostationary
> orbit over a specific point NOT on the equator?  Could you just
require the
> ship to expend X amount of thrust each turn to maintain that spot?  Am
I
> right in assuming that the farther north/south of the equator, the
more
> thrust would be required and the shorter the orbit? Am I also right in
> extrapolating from this that at some point, in concept directly over
the
> poles, you would cease to actually orbit, and instead be "Hovering"
over the
> planet and expending much thrust?  It also seems that this thrust
would be
> equal to the necessary velocity to maintain orbit at that range (ie,
if at X
> range, Y velocity is required to orbit, you could hover by expending Y
> thrust every turn), and that for any point between the equator and the
pole,
> there should be some fraction of this relationship at work.  Sounds
pretty
> daunting with modern thrust technology, but with the right PSB........
>
> 2B^2
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos:
> http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx