Subj : Re: New Pico2
To   : Ahem A Rivet's Shot
From : Lawrence D'Oliveiro
Date : Sun Aug 25 2024 23:59:30

XPost: sci.electronics.design

On Sat, 24 Aug 2024 08:56:12 +0100, Ahem A Rivet's Shot wrote:

> Hohmann worked out the details of travel around the solar system
> using the computing power in his head and the storage afforded by a
> pencil and paper. The computing requirements for space travel are not
> that large.

He was only able to come up with “minimum energy” transfer orbits that
went fairly directly from body A to body B. Since then, we have worked out
more complicated low-energy “slingshot” orbits that involve bouncing
around the Solar System to match velocities with difficult-to-reach target
bodies like comets. That required real computing power: there’s no way
anybody could have worked that out with pencil and paper, even with a
slide rule.

And what about “halo” orbits, like at Earth-Moon L2, where the Chinese put
their relay station for maintaining contact with their far-side rover, and
where the James Webb telescope is located? You think you could work out
the right numbers for those without a modern digital electronic computer?
They’re not even properly stable, for a start.

> Boeing are busy acquiring a reputation of careless engineering.

True, that. But are they too big to be allowed to fail?

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