 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
In Reply to: Good idea for a SF movie ?? posted by Merak on December 09, 2003 at 20:05:31:
.
Follow Ups:
late,If a rocket motor were projecting a million degree heat 5 miles wide against the Earth from orbit, the considerable energy of the radiating heat would push it away at an astounding rate. It would need an equal or greater thrust in the opposite direction to stay in orbit. Think of the fuel bills?
What kind of spark plugs would this craft use?
Cheers,
Bambi B
Well, at least you're entertaining the notion -- that's good, and so is your question. A low Earth orbit (as originally described) need not be out in 'Space'. If the craft is disabled after it began to slow down on its own, then the orbit can be only a few 10's of miles high. This would place it low enough for atmospheric friction to keep it from unlimited acceleration but not enough to burn it up, at least until a few orbits have been traveled. Also, at that low altitude the heat energy would be severely felt at the surface. The space shuttle can withstand the heat generated upon re-entry, so it would not be a far stretch to imagine a better material able to withstand several orbits at the altitude described.
.
I'm not exactly sure what it is you're saying, but the thrust of the film (pun unintended) is exactly that. The spacecraft becomes the means for mankind's (and Earth's) demise -- unless of course, a solution is found in time.
Hi,
sure it would make a mess. For about 2 seconds. That is enough thrust to get you to a fraction of C. That amount of thrust is unbelievable; having an equal opposite thrust to keep it in place is twice as unbelievable. But I wouldn't mind having one of those to play with.
True enough, if the spacecraft were performing as designed, but it was shot at and disabled -- this could now cause the energy to become more dispersed instead of focused. The net thrust vector in a forward direction could be significantly smaller (although still substantial) than before. This would cause the exhaust to be felt on the surface, where, if it were not hit, be felt only in a small narrow field behind the craft. It would be analogus to trying to launch a rocket without using an exhaust nozzel under the rocket's engine(s). The heat and blast energy would go out in all directions -- the net upward thrust vector would now be only a small fraction of what is necessary to lift the rocket. The rest, is now wasted heat -- where one once stood to watch a spectacular launch would now become a place to become incinerated.
\
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2024, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
