could use some technical checks

On 7/3/14 12:21 PM, Al Globus alglobus@... [spacesettlers] wrote:

> Suppose you have an object in orbit that requires a force of 0.0001356
> mkg/sec2 for a full year. How much reaction mass do you need at 40,000
> m/sec reaction mass velocity?

0.0001356 kg m/sec^2 * 40000 m/sec = 3.39*10^-9 kg/sec

So that's how fast we're throwing away reaction mass, per second. That
works out to 0.000293 kg (or 0.293 g) per day, or 106.9 grams per year
(assuming a 365-day year).

That's a crazy little amount for reboosting something the size of
Kalpana One. But unit cancellation doesn't (usually) lie.

What sort of thrusters are you assuming here?

Best,
- Joe