Re: Spaceship with constant acceleration

macfraggin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

On the other hand, a constant 1G acceleration will cover the 1AU
distance in just under 69 hours -- just about twice as fast!

I find it hard to believe that a constant 1G flight would be twice as
fast as a _brachistochrone_ flight with the same ship, same engine,
same amount of propellant. After all, "brachistochrone" means
"shortest time".

I'm not sure why this surprises you. If you continue acceleration then you obviously get there faster, but you've accumulated so much speed that it doesn't do you much good. The goal with the brachistochrone as it's being referenced here, is to get you to your destination in a useful manner. That requires accelerating to the midpoint and then decelerating to the destination. It takes the same amount of fuel, but it takes longer.

Can anyone correct or verify? If J.J.s and my calculations are
actually correct, I'm calling dibs on patenting this as dirt-cheap,
fast and comfortable interplanetary travel method. ;)

It's well known that constant acceleration drives would allow people to get around the Solar System lickety split. The problem is actually building one.

--
Erik Max Francis && max@xxxxxxxxxxx && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
San Jose, CA, USA && 37 18 N 121 57 W && AIM, Y!M erikmaxfrancis
Ferocious, aren't I?
-- Lt. Vincent Hanna
.

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