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Subject: 
Re: Couldn't resist
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.space, lugnet.off-topic.geek
Date: 
Thu, 28 Jun 2001 19:09:22 GMT
Viewed: 
310 times
  
In lugnet.space, Jesse Alan Long writes:

much clipped

> I was completely unaware that the space craft would immediately crash into
> the Earth in outer space if it completely stopped in outer space.  The space
> program would probably never receive one red cent if that happened to a
> space craft.

Orbit is a balance between a spacecraft's velocity and the downward pull of
gravity. The vehicle's velocity pulls it outward, like centrifugal force in
a car turning a corner, and gravity pulls it in.

> 
> I always thought that heat was able to boil liquids into gas but why does
> heat not present a role into outer space?  Why would pressure matter in
> outer space?  I always thought that you could make a plasma powered space
> craft in a similar manner as you would build a welding torch so please
> explain to me why the plasma engine would present a terrible idea for my
> space craft?  I mean, I know that plasma, in a uncontrolled state, can
> present a great danger but what about a controlled plasma environment, if
> any such environment is possible on a space craft?

Boiling a liguid is causing a change from liguid to solid, and this depends
on the air pressure the liquid is in. A pressure cooker can cook at
temperature higher than boiling, in the mountains boiling temperatures are
lower (check a brownie mix).

Think of it this way. Boiling a liquid makes the liquid molecules jump away
from the liquid. If there is air molecules in the way, they need more energy
to jump away.

> 
> The final question I have to ask is could it be possible, either in a
> science fiction realm or a realistic realm for a Harrier type space craft to
> actually fly into outer space?  I thank you for clearing the confusion in my
> mind, Jason.
> Jesse Long

Well, if the Harrier type aircraft has a jet engine, no, a jet engine needs
air (or oxygen in the air) to work. The vectoring principle of HArrier would
work.

George



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Couldn't resist
 
(...) Thank you for the demonstration about the vehicle and the turning into a curve, George. I finally grasp that concept in my mind. However, liquids, if you boil them, changes materials from liquids to gases, just to let you know, George. :.) (...) (25 years ago, 29-Jun-01, to lugnet.space, lugnet.off-topic.geek)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: Couldn't resist
 
(...) I was only having some fun with the oil part of the letter, I knew that you probably did not use oil in outer space, I mean, after all, the general consensus in outer space would reflect that you would use environmentally friendly materials (...) (25 years ago, 28-Jun-01, to lugnet.space, lugnet.off-topic.geek)

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