Assuming that the projectiles do not have an independent guidance system, what
sort of accuracy can we expect to achieve with mass drivers? Would it be
possible to deliver a payload from the lunar surface, to low-earth orbit, with
an accuracy of +or - 5 or 6 metres?
>
> Assuming that the projectiles do not have an independent guidance
system, what
> sort of accuracy can we expect to achieve with mass drivers? Would
it be
> possible to deliver a payload from the lunar surface, to low-earth
orbit, with
> an accuracy of +or - 5 or 6 metres?
lagrange point (which is between the Earth and the Moon I think -
don't quote me on that one!)
The payloads were then to be moved by slow moving freighter to L5
where the space colony was to be built. The reason for this is that
you wouldn't want any stray payloads hitting any of the habitats at
L5!!
For the same reason I don't think we would want any payloads firing
into low Earth orbit as any stray payloads could damage satellites or
kill humans in low Earth Orbit - even if we could achieve that
accuracy.
As if to illustrate this point one of the ISS crew 'dropped'
something the other week and as a consequence the orbit of the ISS
was changed so that it did not potentially collide with the obkct on
another orbit.
(Any payloads missing their target in LEO would probably go into an
elliptical orbit which would repeatedy intersect LEO at it's lowest
point thus increasing the chance of collision in future years.)
Regards
Mark
>
> Assuming that the projectiles do not have an independent guidance system, what
> sort of accuracy can we expect to achieve with mass drivers? Would it be
> possible to deliver a payload from the lunar surface, to low-earth orbit, with
> an accuracy of +or - 5 or 6 metres?
>
Too many variables.
1) Variations in mass driver performance
2) Gravitational disturbances along the way from planets - it is very
difficult to predict
gravity fields to that elvel of accuracy.
3) solar radiation pressure
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are mass drivers similar to the one in the rpg "xenogears"? it was a big loop that went straight at the end then bent up towards the sky. it appears to be partially buried. can u launch satellites and astronautswith mass drivers? btw, i'm new here.