Timeline for Does it make sense for these space ships to have turrets?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
5 events
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| Nov 2, 2016 at 14:54 | comment | added | Cooper | @Trish Adding RCS systems is more needlessly complex than just increasing the fuel capacity of the missile. I'm thinking that a missile like this could turn 180° in about a second, so the extra fuel that uses up is negligible. | |
| Nov 2, 2016 at 14:32 | comment | added | Trish | Turning circles do matter for constantly burning engines, because you have to burn fuel for the whole length of the arc you fly, so for a 180° turn (worst case), the maximum distance is cut by $\pi r(\vec v)", so you want a small r to keep maximum reach or maneuvering fuel. You likely acknowledge that r increases proportionally to the speed of the missile. If you can shut down the engine and have RCS to realign the missile, then fire it in the new target vector, the missile design gets much more complicated, but you gain the "free fire" ability you seem to think about. | |
| Nov 2, 2016 at 14:11 | comment | added | Cooper | @Trish Agreed in that the missiles can't work like conventional ballistics - they'd need to have vectored thrust for a start. But one vectored thrust nozzle is not much more complex than manoeuvring fins (at least, it won't be when we have fighting space ships) and the missiles' relatively small size means they will still be very agile. There's also a lot of 'space' in space, so turning circle won't really be a factor; ships will engage at extreme distance anyway. | |
| Nov 2, 2016 at 14:08 | comment | added | Trish | In space, steering of munitions is not that uncomplicated, because they have to angle their engine to change direction, while in an atmosphere most missiles have a fixed engine and maneuvering fins. In both cases, any rocket engine/missile has a minimum turning radius based upon its vectoring engine/steering capabilities and its maximum acceleration. This is the reason, why fighter jets only fire missiles into the front 60-90° arc. Comparing to VLBs is not possible in space, as cruise missiles rely on gravity to achieve their target trajectory. This is most likely not possible in space combat. | |
| Nov 1, 2016 at 15:21 | history | answered | Cooper | CC BY-SA 3.0 |