A Space & astronomy forum. SpaceBanter.com

Go Back   Home » SpaceBanter.com forum » Space Science » Science
Site Map Home Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Alternative to Rockets



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old March 8th 04, 05:30 PM
George Kinley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other

  #2  
Old March 11th 04, 06:47 AM
Sam Wormley
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

George Kinley wrote:

Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


o solar sails
o radiation

Conservation of Momentum applies
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/phys...fMomentum.html
  #3  
Old March 11th 04, 07:01 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

In sci.physics George Kinley wrote:
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


Sails.

--
Jim Pennino

Remove -spam-sux to reply.
  #4  
Old March 11th 04, 11:02 AM
Bjørn Ove Isaksen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

George Kinley wrote:

Are there any**way**for*rockets*to*fly*in*space*,*other*then *throwing*mass
out in one direction and movi


I'm tempted to answer with an electromagnetic tether in a gravity field, but
you'd still throw mass away (even if it is a planet). You can't beat the
conservation of momentum, sorry.

Sincerely
Bjørn Ove
  #5  
Old March 11th 04, 11:23 AM
Gordon D. Pusch
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

"George Kinley" writes:

Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


1.) The _definition_ of a "rocket" is "something that throws mass
(or more precisely, _momentum_) out in one direction in order to
accelerate in the opposite direction." If it _doesn't_ "throw mass
out the back," it _ISN'T A ROCKET_.

2.) Anything that does _not_ "throw mass out the back" (or more precisely,
_momentum_) in order to accelerate would violate Newton's 3rd Law of Motion
(AKA, the conservation of Momentum). In 300 years, _NO ONE_ has observed
a replicatable violation of Conservation of Momentum.


-- Gordon D. Pusch

perl -e '$_ = \n"; s/NO\.//; s/SPAM\.//; print;'

  #6  
Old March 11th 04, 01:49 PM
Mike Miller
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

"George Kinley" wrote in message ...
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


All methods of getting into orbit involve action-reaction in one way
or another, though some can (mostly) avoid rocket engines.

Methods of (mostly) avoiding rocket engines:

1) Space elevator. A long cable to geosynchronous orbit.
2) Mass drivers/railguns/coilgun launchers. Unfortunately, the big
electromagnetic launchers that can fling a spaceship into orbit
without turning passengers to goo is really, really long, like 600-700
miles for a 3G launch.

Mike Miller, Materials Engineer
  #7  
Old March 11th 04, 02:42 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

In article , George Kinley
writes:
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


Most rockets and other stuff accomplish space flight by coasting; going with
the net flow of gravitation: It's only when they want to steer; accelerate or
decelerate relative to that, that they have to throw off mass.

----- Posted via NewsOne.Net: Free (anonymous) Usenet News via the Web -----
http://newsone.net/ -- Free reading and anonymous posting to 60,000+ groups
NewsOne.Net prohibits users from posting spam. If this or other posts
made through NewsOne.Net violate posting guidelines, email
  #8  
Old March 11th 04, 03:36 PM
Len
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

"George Kinley" wrote in message ...
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


Perhaps. But rockets work fine for a lot of purposes.
All that is necessary is sensible system design based
upon technology we already know how to handle.

Unfortunately, organizations and people with the
necessary financial resources seem to eschew this route.

Best regards,
Len (Cormier)
PanAero, Inc.
(change x to len)
http://www.tour2space.com
  #9  
Old March 11th 04, 04:23 PM
Gregory L. Hansen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

In article ,
George Kinley wrote:
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other



Solar sails, plasma sails.


--
"For every problem there is a solution which is simple, clean and wrong."
-- Henry Louis Mencken
  #10  
Old March 11th 04, 04:45 PM
Greg Neill
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Alternative to Rockets

"George Kinley" wrote in message
...
Are there any way for rockets to fly in space , other then throwing mass
out in one direction and moving in other


Well, that's what "rockets" do. So, no.

But spacecraft in general might take advantage of
light pressure (solar wind), or magnetic fields in
the environment.

 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Titan 4s costly AllanStern Space Shuttle 9 February 17th 04 06:02 AM
Von Braun rockets on Encyclopedia Astronautica Pat Flannery Space Science Misc 41 November 11th 03 09:10 AM
Rockets George Kinley Science 29 August 1st 03 06:06 AM
"Why I won't invest in rockets for space tourism ... yet" RAILROAD SPIKE Space Station 0 July 30th 03 12:06 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 12:44 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 SpaceBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.