RE: [FT] Orbit and FT

It's only a problem at low orbits, where you still have wisps of
atmosphere.  Sky Lab came down because it was low enough to have a
slight drag and it ran out of fuel for the thrusters.  It was thought
uneconomical to try to push that much mass into a higher orbit.  When
you get a few thousand miles out, there isn't much atmosphere to deal
with so it would be negligible.

--Binhan

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brian Bilderback [mailto:bbilderback@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 11:46 AM
> To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
> Subject: RE: [FT] Orbit and FT
> 
> 
> Laserlight wrote:
> 
> 
> >    Determine orbital circumference at various orbits, and 
> divide by 12 
> >turns.  Let gravity give you a 1 point change of direction 
> every turn.
> 
> Also, not only do you need to determine orbital velocities, 
> don't you have 
> to take into account orbit decay and decide how often the 
> ship has to expend 
> some thrust to keep up orbital velocity?  Or is it such a 
> long-term problem 
> as to be negligible in game terms?
> 
> 2B^2
> 
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