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If a spaceship ran out of fuel somewhere in space between Earth and Mars, does it slowly drift off to Sun?
If a spaceship ran out of fuel somewhere in space between Earth and Mars, does it slowly drift off to Sun?
Could dark energy be negative gravity?Do planets repel?If the Universe is infinite, would heat death be impossible?Precession of the EquinoxHow fast would Earth need to rotate to fling someone off due to centrifugal force?How to correctly create planetary orbits from kepler elementsIf earth changed its orbit, what would happen to the moon?How strong is the gravitational stretch we experience from the edge of the universe?
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Pretty much what the title is saying. I feel like I am missing something fundamental here and this is driving me crazy.
Does a spaceship which is out of Earth's gravity should drift to Sun eventually?
gravity
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
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add a comment
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$begingroup$
Pretty much what the title is saying. I feel like I am missing something fundamental here and this is driving me crazy.
Does a spaceship which is out of Earth's gravity should drift to Sun eventually?
gravity
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
New contributor
anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
2
$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Pretty much what the title is saying. I feel like I am missing something fundamental here and this is driving me crazy.
Does a spaceship which is out of Earth's gravity should drift to Sun eventually?
gravity
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
New contributor
anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
$endgroup$
Pretty much what the title is saying. I feel like I am missing something fundamental here and this is driving me crazy.
Does a spaceship which is out of Earth's gravity should drift to Sun eventually?
gravity
gravity
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
New contributor
anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
New contributor
anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
edited 8 hours ago
peterh
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
2,2433 gold badges13 silver badges35 bronze badges
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
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anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
asked 8 hours ago
anilit99anilit99
61 bronze badge
61 bronze badge
New contributor
anilit99 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor
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2
$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
2
$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago
2
2
$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
1
1
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago
add a comment
|
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
What you're missing is some combination of the following:
- objects launched from Earth orbit are still in orbit around the Sun,
- objects in orbit don't need fuel to stay in orbit.
All the planets stay in orbit around the sun because orbits are generally long term stable.
A spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars follows a loop, like in the picture below.
Source
Most of that time, the engines aren't firing, it's just an orbit with higher eccentricity that takes some fuel to enter into, but once in that orbit, it travels that arc naturally.
Escaping Earth takes a lot of fuel, and additional fuel is used to enter the longer orbit after which, it's flying towards Mars, playing catch-up in a sense.
When close to Mars, adjustments and rockets to reduce velocity.
What would happen to the craft depends on where it runs out of fuel, but you said between Earth and Mars. It would either just enter a slightly longer than Earth orbit or, perhaps maybe crash into Mars, though I think a near miss is more likely.
What you're describing, almost happened once, voyager 1 to Jupiter, though the article's final sentence, the author writes rather poorly saying
"would have gotten almost to Jupiter, and then come back toward the
sun, which would not have been good"
That's only partly accurate. It would have almost made it to Jupiter, then stayed in a more elliptical orbit, moving closer to the sun for a while, only to fall further away again as the orbit continued.
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Normally a spacecraft would use most of its fuel just leaving the earth. Retaining some secondary fuel for maneuvers. If it runs out of fuel early during liftoff it depends on how early it ran out to know what happens. it could either fall back to earth or end up in earth's orbit.
You'd expect if it runs out just a little before planned burnout time the spacecraft would be on a course to Mars but would have an altered trajectory.
During a planned launch to Mars, the spacecraft will be in free motion moving at a high velocity to get it to Mars.
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
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2 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
$begingroup$
What you're missing is some combination of the following:
- objects launched from Earth orbit are still in orbit around the Sun,
- objects in orbit don't need fuel to stay in orbit.
All the planets stay in orbit around the sun because orbits are generally long term stable.
A spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars follows a loop, like in the picture below.
Source
Most of that time, the engines aren't firing, it's just an orbit with higher eccentricity that takes some fuel to enter into, but once in that orbit, it travels that arc naturally.
Escaping Earth takes a lot of fuel, and additional fuel is used to enter the longer orbit after which, it's flying towards Mars, playing catch-up in a sense.
When close to Mars, adjustments and rockets to reduce velocity.
What would happen to the craft depends on where it runs out of fuel, but you said between Earth and Mars. It would either just enter a slightly longer than Earth orbit or, perhaps maybe crash into Mars, though I think a near miss is more likely.
What you're describing, almost happened once, voyager 1 to Jupiter, though the article's final sentence, the author writes rather poorly saying
"would have gotten almost to Jupiter, and then come back toward the
sun, which would not have been good"
That's only partly accurate. It would have almost made it to Jupiter, then stayed in a more elliptical orbit, moving closer to the sun for a while, only to fall further away again as the orbit continued.
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
What you're missing is some combination of the following:
- objects launched from Earth orbit are still in orbit around the Sun,
- objects in orbit don't need fuel to stay in orbit.
All the planets stay in orbit around the sun because orbits are generally long term stable.
A spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars follows a loop, like in the picture below.
Source
Most of that time, the engines aren't firing, it's just an orbit with higher eccentricity that takes some fuel to enter into, but once in that orbit, it travels that arc naturally.
Escaping Earth takes a lot of fuel, and additional fuel is used to enter the longer orbit after which, it's flying towards Mars, playing catch-up in a sense.
When close to Mars, adjustments and rockets to reduce velocity.
What would happen to the craft depends on where it runs out of fuel, but you said between Earth and Mars. It would either just enter a slightly longer than Earth orbit or, perhaps maybe crash into Mars, though I think a near miss is more likely.
What you're describing, almost happened once, voyager 1 to Jupiter, though the article's final sentence, the author writes rather poorly saying
"would have gotten almost to Jupiter, and then come back toward the
sun, which would not have been good"
That's only partly accurate. It would have almost made it to Jupiter, then stayed in a more elliptical orbit, moving closer to the sun for a while, only to fall further away again as the orbit continued.
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
What you're missing is some combination of the following:
- objects launched from Earth orbit are still in orbit around the Sun,
- objects in orbit don't need fuel to stay in orbit.
All the planets stay in orbit around the sun because orbits are generally long term stable.
A spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars follows a loop, like in the picture below.
Source
Most of that time, the engines aren't firing, it's just an orbit with higher eccentricity that takes some fuel to enter into, but once in that orbit, it travels that arc naturally.
Escaping Earth takes a lot of fuel, and additional fuel is used to enter the longer orbit after which, it's flying towards Mars, playing catch-up in a sense.
When close to Mars, adjustments and rockets to reduce velocity.
What would happen to the craft depends on where it runs out of fuel, but you said between Earth and Mars. It would either just enter a slightly longer than Earth orbit or, perhaps maybe crash into Mars, though I think a near miss is more likely.
What you're describing, almost happened once, voyager 1 to Jupiter, though the article's final sentence, the author writes rather poorly saying
"would have gotten almost to Jupiter, and then come back toward the
sun, which would not have been good"
That's only partly accurate. It would have almost made it to Jupiter, then stayed in a more elliptical orbit, moving closer to the sun for a while, only to fall further away again as the orbit continued.
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
$endgroup$
What you're missing is some combination of the following:
- objects launched from Earth orbit are still in orbit around the Sun,
- objects in orbit don't need fuel to stay in orbit.
All the planets stay in orbit around the sun because orbits are generally long term stable.
A spacecraft flying from Earth to Mars follows a loop, like in the picture below.
Source
Most of that time, the engines aren't firing, it's just an orbit with higher eccentricity that takes some fuel to enter into, but once in that orbit, it travels that arc naturally.
Escaping Earth takes a lot of fuel, and additional fuel is used to enter the longer orbit after which, it's flying towards Mars, playing catch-up in a sense.
When close to Mars, adjustments and rockets to reduce velocity.
What would happen to the craft depends on where it runs out of fuel, but you said between Earth and Mars. It would either just enter a slightly longer than Earth orbit or, perhaps maybe crash into Mars, though I think a near miss is more likely.
What you're describing, almost happened once, voyager 1 to Jupiter, though the article's final sentence, the author writes rather poorly saying
"would have gotten almost to Jupiter, and then come back toward the
sun, which would not have been good"
That's only partly accurate. It would have almost made it to Jupiter, then stayed in a more elliptical orbit, moving closer to the sun for a while, only to fall further away again as the orbit continued.
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
edited 2 hours ago
uhoh
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
10.5k3 gold badges29 silver badges92 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
answered 5 hours ago
userLTKuserLTK
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
17.3k1 gold badge23 silver badges50 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Normally a spacecraft would use most of its fuel just leaving the earth. Retaining some secondary fuel for maneuvers. If it runs out of fuel early during liftoff it depends on how early it ran out to know what happens. it could either fall back to earth or end up in earth's orbit.
You'd expect if it runs out just a little before planned burnout time the spacecraft would be on a course to Mars but would have an altered trajectory.
During a planned launch to Mars, the spacecraft will be in free motion moving at a high velocity to get it to Mars.
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Normally a spacecraft would use most of its fuel just leaving the earth. Retaining some secondary fuel for maneuvers. If it runs out of fuel early during liftoff it depends on how early it ran out to know what happens. it could either fall back to earth or end up in earth's orbit.
You'd expect if it runs out just a little before planned burnout time the spacecraft would be on a course to Mars but would have an altered trajectory.
During a planned launch to Mars, the spacecraft will be in free motion moving at a high velocity to get it to Mars.
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
$endgroup$
add a comment
|
$begingroup$
Normally a spacecraft would use most of its fuel just leaving the earth. Retaining some secondary fuel for maneuvers. If it runs out of fuel early during liftoff it depends on how early it ran out to know what happens. it could either fall back to earth or end up in earth's orbit.
You'd expect if it runs out just a little before planned burnout time the spacecraft would be on a course to Mars but would have an altered trajectory.
During a planned launch to Mars, the spacecraft will be in free motion moving at a high velocity to get it to Mars.
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
$endgroup$
Normally a spacecraft would use most of its fuel just leaving the earth. Retaining some secondary fuel for maneuvers. If it runs out of fuel early during liftoff it depends on how early it ran out to know what happens. it could either fall back to earth or end up in earth's orbit.
You'd expect if it runs out just a little before planned burnout time the spacecraft would be on a course to Mars but would have an altered trajectory.
During a planned launch to Mars, the spacecraft will be in free motion moving at a high velocity to get it to Mars.
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
answered 8 hours ago
jmhjmh
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
2,5661 gold badge4 silver badges20 bronze badges
add a comment
|
add a comment
|
anilit99 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
anilit99 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
anilit99 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
anilit99 is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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$begingroup$
There is also a "space exploration" stack exchange, where such questions might be asked.
$endgroup$
– James K
7 hours ago
1
$begingroup$
The ship is in an orbit, with a lot of speed: the speed it had from being on Earth, combined with the speed it got from burning fuel. It's not like an out of fuel boat drifting on the ocean.
$endgroup$
– PM 2Ring
7 hours ago