[FT] Solar Thrust: Strategic spaceflight

Hi all - 

   I have just uploaded to the Solar Thrust site a Java applet that will
calculate the required transfer orbit (and the delta-V and fuel) to move
between any two bodies of the Solar System (the planets are acceible
from
drop-down lists, but you can input the orbital parameters for anything).
I
am in the process of writing an article explaining what all the orbital
elements mean and the derivation of the equations, but I thought in the
mean time people could play with it and at least get some idea of the
energy and fuel costs involved in interplanetary travel.  Very soon I'll
make a similar applet to go along with the engines article.  The site
URL
is http://www.erols.com/kwatt/SolarThrust.

Enjoy!
Keith

kwatt@astro.umd.edu
Univ. of Maryland Astronomy