(01-12-2024, 04:07 AM)Ninurta Wrote: Physics 101, from Sir Isaac Newton: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.Ah, I see now.
Regardless of what the initial trajectory calculations would have yielded, the valve failure and especially the tank burst will have changed that trajectory considerably. If a fuel or oxidant tank ruptured, then it would have ejected pressurized mass via the fissure in the tank - the "action" of Newton's physics. That would have caused the craft to veer off the trajectory in a direction opposite of the fuel mass ejection, and with equal force - the "reaction" Newton was talking about.
The tangetial vector of the combined forward momentum of the craft, modified by the lateral push of the vented material from the ruptured tank would combine to shove the space craft off course from it's intended trajectory.
To compound matters, venting either fuel or oxidant would reduce the craft's fuel capacity to correct course back to the original trajectory.
Honestly, if the failure was that critical, I'm not sure why they are even still running the spacecraft rather than abandoning it to the universe and getting to work on a new and improved version.
I'm also not too clear on why we are even trying to return to the moon. We've already been there several times, and found nothing there but lifeless lunar regolith. I suppose it might be an attempt at an area denial strategy to keep China from basing weapons on the moon aimed at Washington, D.C.
Failures of one sort or another are not uncommon in space exploration missions. As I recall, two of the Apollo missions were pretty spectacular failures, and something between 1/3 and 1/2 of ALL Mars missions, regardless of the launching nation, have been utter failures as well. I've often wondered if there is not something on Mars saying "not in MY back yard, bub!" and shooting them down.
Stuff happens. From the days of colonial exploration of the New World in wooden sailing ships right up to, through, and beyond the exploration of the solar system with metal robots, failures are to be expected and factored in. They won't stop us now, any more than a ship sinking in a storm stopped the waves of Europeans hell bent on raping the resources of a a new undiscovered country.
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I wouldn't of that a leak coukd have pushed it off course like that.
Thanks, that was very thorough.
Here I'm thinking, they miscalculated.
