Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero...
by jonknee on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @01:01PM
(#16326535)
We have very different definitions of extended periods of time. Elon's talking about it orbiting for millions of years. It's definitely not going to hit anything anytime soon.
Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero...
by mulmen on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @08:55PM
(#16329575)
He also completely missed the intended orbit so you can't use that "millions of years" number as evidence that it will not hit something.
Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero...
by jonknee on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @10:22PM
(#16329927)
That is still a good bet to make, it's very hard to hit anything even if you spent considerable effort specifically trying to. Also, there wasn't an intended orbit as much as there was a general direction and an "empty the tank" burn.
Re:SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to astero...
by mulmen on Wednesday February 07, 2018 @10:24PM
(#16329932)
Yeah I saw that in another comment further down the chain. With all the hype around the Mars shot I assumed the ability to accurately place the car in orbit was a worthwhile goal. Not being a rocket scientist I wasn't aware that just knowing how far the thing can go is equally (or more?) interesting.
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Research...