Re: [Phys-l] Rocket Science

[John Mallinckrodt <ajm@csupomona.edu>]

John Denker wrote:

> Here's the scenario:  Spacecraft #1 is launched into a nice, circular,
> low-earth orbit.  Shortly thereafter, spacecraft #2 is launched into
> the _same_ orbit.  At this point in the story, spacecraft #2 is  
> keeping
> pace with #1, and is simply 90 km in trail.
>
> The flight plan calls for the two craft to rendezvous.  At time t,
> spacecraft #2 fires its thruster, thereby giving itself a delta v
> of 60 km/h, directed toward spacecraft #1 in the obvious way.
>
> Here's the question:  Within a km or so, how far apart are the
> spacecraft at time t + 90 minutes?
>
> Vis vobiscum.

I get something like 360 km--the original 90 plus an additional 270.

Cred vobiscum.

John "Slo" Mallinckrodt

Professor of Physics, Cal Poly Pomona
<http://www.csupomona.edu/~ajm>

and

Lead Guitarist, Out-Laws of Physics
<http://outlawsofphysics.com>