Best Landing Approach, BattleTech Universe

[Cannon_Fodder]

Ships "jump" in/out of a solar system at either the Zenith or Nadir point. They arrive in system with zero velocity relative to the star. Standard transit is burn at 1G acceleration for the target then flip over and burn 1G deceleration (Don't get me started at the issues there). You are in a large "space plane" and use runway.

Question: Assuming the arrival/departure from the Zenith or Nadir point what is the best runway alignment for a "space plane" to take off and/or land?

[Scotius]

Wow...just...wow. Delta V requirements for such inclination plane change would be enormous. I guess best route would be to go for Jupiter or Saturn, use gravity assist/aerobraking to "flatten" your orbit near to the ecliptic plane, then work on changing the inclination before you reach Earth. Still, that doesn't seem to be a good way to enter any planetary system that is not chock-full of space dust and debris. Ours is mostly empty anyway - so why go so high above ecliptic?

[Awaras]

Q: Where can you land a craft capable of SSTO and traveling over 10 AU at a continual 1g acceleration?

A: Anywhere you d**n well want!

[Sinner_D]

i would say approach zenith or NADIR point in a direct up or down "respectively"(either way youd be coming in direct vector for center of the sun) approach following a similar 90* arc(like upon launch into earth orbit) towards one of the outer planets... the suns grav would pull back on you through the entire arc at appropriate axis for deceleration, this would both slow you down considerably as well as level your plane for equatorial plane alignment. while sun would slow you down i doubt this approach would stop you completely which means youd have to perform afterwards a standard slingshot 180 around one of the outer planets in order to return heading towards sun, and thus earth. by then a simple aerobreak in earths atmo would mean a safe trip home.

[Scotius]

Q: Where can you land a craft capable of SSTO and traveling over 10 AU at a continual 1g acceleration?

A: Anywhere you d**n well want!

I'm just bewildered who would want to enter a solar system at such extravagant angle Is that due to gravitational interference of Sun and planets? I don't know much about BattleTech, so pardon my confusion

[Tommygun]

Q: Where can you land a craft capable of SSTO and traveling over 10 AU at a continual 1g acceleration?

A: Anywhere you d**n well want!

This is pretty much the best answer.

The ship you are describing would be quite advanced and powerful.

[Tommygun]

I'm just bewildered who would want to enter a solar system at such extravagant angle Is that due to gravitational interference of Sun and planets? I don't know much about BattleTech, so pardon my confusion

Scroll down to Jump procedure:

http://www.sarna.net/wiki/JumpShip

[Cannon_Fodder]

Q: Where can you land a craft capable of SSTO and traveling over 10 AU at a continual 1g acceleration?

A: Anywhere you d**n well want!

That's pretty much what I thought.

I'm just bewildered who would want to enter a solar system at such extravagant angle Is that due to gravitational interference of Sun and planets? I don't know much about BattleTech, so pardon my confusion

BattleTech is a game about big stompy robots. Not surprised they really didn't consider physics when they pulled their space travel system out of their a**.

And you can jump into a system anywhere along the Proximity Limit AKA "Jump Wall". You can even jump deeper into the system at Lagrange points (in that case you arrive with zero relative velocity to the jump point). ZENITH and NADIR are preferred since they are not effected by planetary gravity and easiest to calculate. Since miscalculation can mean death.

[magnemoe]

That's pretty much what I thought.

BattleTech is a game about big stompy robots. Not surprised they really didn't consider physics when they pulled their space travel system out of their a**.

And you can jump into a system anywhere along the Proximity Limit AKA "Jump Wall". You can even jump deeper into the system at Lagrange points (in that case you arrive with zero relative velocity to the jump point). ZENITH and NADIR are preferred since they are not effected by planetary gravity and easiest to calculate. Since miscalculation can mean death.

With an ship capable of 10 AU at a continual 1g acceleration, the planetary speed does not matter much, Moth in the goods eye used similar ships and had jump points. In short you locate the target, decide how long you will burn and brake as in how much fuel you will use, this gives time and position of target at arrival, you burn, cruise, then brake and at the end of braking adjust speed to match target.

For an low power aproch you would slingshot around Jupiter to change you direction.

[Cannon_Fodder]

The main question is, with this insane and illogical travel system is there a logical heading for the runway alignment?

[Tommygun]

The main question is, with this insane and illogical travel system is there a logical heading for the runway alignment?

I would guess run it North and South if you really want to have a tie-in to the Zenith or Nadir points above and below the solar plane.

[andrewas]

We're talking about spaceplanes here. Even shuttle has the freedom to land on any orientation of runway with zero dV cost, it has enough energy left when it gets to KSC to fly at least one complete circle before landing. A powered spaceplane can land on any runway it wants to, making other factors, like predominant wind, the surrounding terrain and noise considerations more important than what orientation the spaceplane prefers.