All Questions
19,092
questions
3
votes
1
answer
36
views
Does a Lunar Cycler make practical sense?
I know that a Mars Cycler has many advantages due to the distance involved, but what about a Lunar Cycler? From what I've seen, the time window seems relatively short, and docking with a cycler ...
-4
votes
0
answers
46
views
Generic question re. Aldrin, Apollo and van Allen belts, belts added later [closed]
I posted my first question last month, revised it after some comments, saved it, but apparently failed to resubmit my question. So it was deleted last week. Any chance to resubmit it without retyping ...
5
votes
0
answers
95
views
Space Shuttle development book recomendation
What book would you recommend that goes into a lot of techical details on the development of the Space Shuttle (how it unfolded chronologically, how the decision was made to develop it, what were the ...
- 250
-2
votes
0
answers
98
views
lunar lander internal temprature [closed]
my friend continually says moon landings with astronauts were impossible as lunar lander internal temps were too cold. I believe there is a law of thermodynamics, but I don't know
2
votes
0
answers
71
views
Could a planet only support underwater life?
I imagine the surface of Europa to be a barren atmospheric wasteland. But under the ice, acting as insulation, and where water meets soil, would it be warmer from geothermic heat to better support ...
- 365
2
votes
2
answers
70
views
Can any electric rockets utilize in-situ asteroid materials as reaction mass?
Asteroids have materials of high value with potential for commercial mining but the rocketry required to support it appears to be one of the biggest challenges, with high costs. In mass terms the ...
- 1,062
0
votes
1
answer
184
views
What is an feasible atmospheric pressure for plants and humans on Mars?
On Earth plants can grow at an atmospheric pressure of around 5 psi (0.34 bar) with supplemental carbon dioxide. On Mars, the carbon dioxide would also be naturally concentrated underground.
What is a ...
- 365
2
votes
1
answer
92
views
Question about some engineering solutions in control moment gyro ECP Model 750
My attention was drawn to this design of the control moment gyroscope: Model 750 Control Moment Gyroscope. Fact sheet. Next I will give a picture from this document:
The extended description contains ...
- 319
5
votes
1
answer
63
views
Most likely trajectory of the Gravity Probe A spacecraft, and location of the microwave maser receiver on Earth?
Background/motivation
@PM2Ring's comment under an answer to "Is there a wavelength shift between sunlight observed from the ISS versus from Earth's surface?" in Physics SE links to the ...
- 148k
7
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Diagonal ice tunneling rover to reach a safe pressure in Mars?
Is the ice on Mars deep enough to bore down into it to sustain around 10 PSI (69 kPa) air pressure? The device I have in mind is a rover with a reactor that melts through the ice slowly to create a ...
- 365
2
votes
1
answer
91
views
How to find the velocity vector of a planet in orbit argument of periapsis or longitude of the ascending node?
Edit : This question has been answered. If anybody else creating a fictional planet has a similar question to mine, with a not-so-good understanding of orbital mechanics such as me, the answer should ...
- 23
5
votes
3
answers
757
views
Rocket Nozzle Shape and Length
How is the efficiency of a particular nozzle shape with a given length calculated?
To clarify what I'm not asking for: I understand the idea behind the de Laval nozzle, where you constrict the flow ...
- 717
2
votes
0
answers
97
views
How are solid rocket propellants stored?
Unlike Liquid Propellants, solid propellants are already mixed with each other. I've always wondered, does that propellant ever go "bad"? and if it does, how do they prevent it from doing so?...
- 547
-5
votes
1
answer
70
views
Why can't we smash asteroids into Mars so it will move closer to the sun for colonization of the planet
It would take a concerted effort to make this happen.
2
votes
0
answers
52
views
Accuracy of MRO ephemeris
I am trying to understand if I pick a point on the Martian surface, say the Airy-0 Crater, with what accuracy can I predict the earth time the MRO will pass directly overhead?
It's my understanding ...
- 21