Fuel Transfer Exploits

[AletzN1]

So I was watching the video of Scott Manley about moving your spacecraft by changing the center of mass and rotating the craft

link:

He says that this is breaking the laws of physics.

Here is the question

What would happen in real life ?

I never could come up with an answer on my own...

[Tex_NL]

Real life fuel has inertia. Pumping fuel from left to right will push the craft from right to left. The center of mass (ship and fuel combined) will not move.

It's been a while since I watched that video but I do believe Scott explained it all.

Edit: Watched it again and I was wrong, Scott did not clearly explain what would happen IRL. Though he did mention real fuel does and KSP fuel does not have inertia.

Edited July 13, 2013 by Tex_NL

[Genius Evil]

Ninja'd me.

[AletzN1]

Wow that was quick

hmmm... I don't really remember about him fully explaning it, I'll check it out later.

Thanks!

[Whirligig Girl]

A similar solution could be done with electric servos, and it wouldn't rely on pumping fuel.