Space battles since 2000
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vectored_thrustzecro wrote:QUOTE (zecro @ Mar 9 2007, 09:29 AM) Also, missiles in space wouldn't have good maneuverability because things don't just stop in space... It would be difficult to turn on a dime for a missile without gravity or air drag so side-thrusting away from a missile course would make it difficult for the missile to actually hit.
Actually the lack of gravity and drag makes things easier for missiles. A missile in space doesn't have to keep trusting to maintain it's trajectory, so it can carry less fuel, which gives it less mass. If the missile is equipped with attitude thrusters, it can literally turn on a dime, it stops thrusting, rotates to then new heading, and then begins thrusting again.zecro wrote:QUOTE (zecro @ Mar 9 2007, 02:29 AM) Also, missiles in space wouldn't have good maneuverability because things don't just stop in space... It would be difficult to turn on a dime for a missile without gravity or air drag so side-thrusting away from a missile course would make it difficult for the missile to actually hit.
it is more complicated than that. it would have to turn to a heading that led the target because it would keep the inertia from its previous heading. if it turned say 90 degrees and thrusted it would end up on a heading only 45 degrees different from the initial heading. indisputable proof of this can be found in the game asteroids.factoid wrote:QUOTE (factoid @ Mar 9 2007, 01:35 PM) Actually the lack of gravity and drag makes things easier for missiles. A missile in space doesn't have to keep trusting to maintain it's trajectory, so it can carry less fuel, which gives it less mass. If the missile is equipped with attitude thrusters, it can literally turn on a dime, it stops thrusting, rotates to then new heading, and then begins thrusting again.
Modern air-to-air rockets have a solid booster, because it's cheaper and you don't need less maintaining service on it.Ramaglor wrote:QUOTE (Ramaglor @ Mar 9 2007, 08:32 PM) Don't missiles contain their own oxidizers? I thought only fuel air bombs needed atmospheric oxygen.
No, it's high explosive blast-fragmentation, and some times kinetic energy (PATRIOT PAC-3) or nuclear blast (NIKE Hercules). /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />factoid wrote:QUOTE (factoid @ Mar 9 2007, 08:49 PM) I think he means that a lot of a missile's damage comes from the shockwave. But to that I say....
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaped_charge