choinski@primerd.prime.com (10/12/89)
I have a question for anyone whith either a mind for hairy math or seat-of-the-pants aeronautics knowledge: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Assume the following scenario: You have a spaceplane, which produces 'X' amount of thrust for it's weight. Said spaceplane's course is to reach orbital speed at an altitude of 'H' above the earth. Said spaceplane takes off horizontally but eventually follows a flight path similar to the space shuttle until it reaches it's orbit. Now, the question is, "does anyone have a quck & dirty means of determining flight time from launch to orbit"? I have been looking through books on orbital mechanics, but all the descriptions, diagrams and formulas assume you have taken up physics as a major (I'm a CS major). Something, anything, that gives a reasonable estimate and is flexible enough to be altered for different gravity fields (say landing on titan) would be good. Extreme accuracy is not that needed. Please, I have access to only a small state college's library that does not have all the latest books, journals or papers that might be found at an MIT class college. If you can help, please mail me your musings at the address below. If you happen to also have a time formula for landing time (given 'Y' atmospheric density) I would appreciate it. Thanks! I hope someone out there can help. -============================================================================- Burton Choinski choinski@env.prime.com Prime Computer, Inc. (508) 879-2960 x3233 Framingham, Ma. 01701 Disclaimer: Hey, not me man; musta been my evil twin. -============================================================================-