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RexDart

(188 posts)

31. Let's see if all the Kerbal Space Program has helped...

Reply to mindwalker_i (Reply #12)

Fri Sep 18, 2015, 12:47 AM

Sep 2015

NASA fact page says the escape velocity of Pluto is 1.21 km/sec. Wikipedia says that New Horizon passed Pluto at 13+ km/sec. So we have a Delta-V of at least 12 km/sec for new New Horizon to orbit Pluto. New Horizon had a Delta-V budget of 290 m/s for the whole fight (wiki) which isn't going to make the nut. So it needs to be a lot bigger or a lot slower when it gets there.

Just as a fun fact, 12 km/sec is about the Delta-V to go from the surface of the Earth to lunar orbit. And that took a Saturn V to do it...

ETA: is and in are very different words...

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Pluto Like You've Never Seen it Before [View all] brooklynite Sep 2015 OP

Too bad we didn't send an orbiter to map it all in detail. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #1

I read about that. Not easy. Wilms Sep 2015 #6

In order to not need a whole lot of energy (rocket fuel) to go into orbit mindwalker_i Sep 2015 #12

Let's see if all the Kerbal Space Program has helped... RexDart Sep 2015 #31

Yeah, they are different worlds mindwalker_i Sep 2015 #33

Nobody ever expected Pluto to be so interesting Kotya Sep 2015 #7

Most expected a big snowball. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #11

Alan Stern did! (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #19

Almost all initial reconiscance of planetary bodies .... PosterChild Sep 2015 #25

I know, this trip revealed a very high atmosphere that could cause drag on an orbiter. Spitfire of ATJ Sep 2015 #28

Good example (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #30

Or possibly be used for aerobraking daleo Sep 2015 #37

Are there no colors out there? Cayenne Sep 2015 #2

They ran out of the Polaroid fixing solution. They have to use the Brownie now. Elmer S. E. Dump Sep 2015 #8

I think these shots were made with the... PosterChild Sep 2015 #24

Not Lorri, Ralph Baclava Sep 2015 #32

Thanks! That is a very detailed, and accurate . ... PosterChild Sep 2015 #39

I know someone who was on the original launch team in 2006 hobbit709 Sep 2015 #3

SWRI? (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #27

No doubt this is impressive chapdrum Sep 2015 #4

Hardly a sliver of a sliver starroute Sep 2015 #9

NASA is not military . ... PosterChild Sep 2015 #21

NASA budget is non-military, the problem is Congress (and space pork). Statistical Sep 2015 #34

I agree; we should be taxing the trillions stashed offshore by corporations and wealthy individuals. byronius Sep 2015 #10

I agree with most chapdrum Sep 2015 #13

I guess you don't know much about NASA science projects, Peace Patriot Sep 2015 #23

Perhaps was being unfairly reductive chapdrum Sep 2015 #29

Holy fucking shit. True Blue Door Sep 2015 #5

a lesson in prejudice for all JI7 Sep 2015 #14

Yeppir, it looks like a planet to me. Prisoner_Number_Six Sep 2015 #15

It's a planetoid, get it right Cayenne Sep 2015 #20

A - frigging - right!! (nt) PosterChild Sep 2015 #26

Very cool! Thanks for posting, brooklynite. Dont call me Shirley Sep 2015 #16

I like this one HomerRamone Sep 2015 #17

I'll be damned tabasco Sep 2015 #22

Who wants to grab their mountaineering gear and meet me there? FSogol Sep 2015 #18

If anyone ever tells you this is too expensive ... Statistical Sep 2015 #35

And think of the price per mile.....0.015 CENTS! brooklynite Sep 2015 #36

I saw this on another website and I think it sums it up "for aeons, Pluto ..." Statistical Sep 2015 #38