List of terminal velocities?

[Grizzlol]

I am wondering if there is any add-on or perhaps a spreadsheet that lists the current terminal velocity (for a given altitude). If you are wondering how this is useful, it is because trying to push the craft beyond the terminal velocity at its specific altitude is a waste of fuel, which is where throttle management comes in. Knowing when and how to manage the throttle is difficult without knowing the terminal velocity.

[spike8118]

i dont think there is a terminal velocity for things in space because there is no atmosphere in space. i dont know just thinking

[Ted]

I believe MJ may be able to generate this information as it normally throttles down <2500m when the velocity gets to around 100m/s, check the source code of the Ascent Module to see how it does it.

i dont think there is a terminal velocity for things in space because there is no atmosphere in space. i dont know just thinking

I think the post is about terminal velocities during launch, while still in the atmosphere. Also, I would imagine that the speed of light might count as a terminal velocity in space, not sure though.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Ted

[Ziff]

I am wondering if there is any add-on or perhaps a spreadsheet that lists the current terminal velocity (for a given altitude). If you are wondering how this is useful, it is because trying to push the craft beyond the terminal velocity at its specific altitude is a waste of fuel, which is where throttle management comes in. Knowing when and how to manage the throttle is difficult without knowing the terminal velocity.

What you are referring to is Max Q, or Maximum Dynamic Pressure, not Terminal Velocity. Terminal Velocity is when freefall acceleration reaches zero when the downward force of gravity equals the upward pull of drag. I know of no such mod, but MechJeb definitely accounts for it because you can watch MechJeb throttle down at the appropriate time during launch.

[Person012345]

Doesn't it depend on the size of the object (and therefore the air resistance it produces)? I know kerbals fall faster than their space ships for instance.

[UmbralRaptor]

Doesn't it depend on the size of the object (and therefore the air resistance it produces)? I know kerbals fall faster than their space ships for instance.

Drag in KSP is related to the drag and mass* values of an object, rather than its size. The mass bit is unrelated to real life.

[Ziff]

Terminal Velocity mainly depends on gravity, the mass of the object, the shape of the object, and the drag coefficient. Let's go back to Max Q, which is what the OP wants to know.

v=craft velocity

p=atmospheric density

So the formula is, Max Q = ½pv²

If you were to track the aerodynamic pressure from launch pad to orbit you would see (on planets with an atmosphere that is) a chart that looks like a bell curve. I might be able to come up with something if I had any idea how to make a plugin for KSP.