How far will NH pass by Pluto?, - and will it be possible to effect a meaningful course change? |
How far will NH pass by Pluto?, - and will it be possible to effect a meaningful course change? |
Guest_Oersted_* |
Apr 16 2008, 02:16 PM
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#1
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Guests |
So, from what I gather, NH will pass by Pluto at a speed of around 14 km/s. I know it won't be able to slow down in any way, and will continue into deep space afterwards, but is a substantial course change envisaged at Pluto, or will it fly by so far away that the course change will be negligible?
I realise that the instruments must be optimised for a pass at a certain distance, but what distance is that and could it possible by reduced with no ill effects? It would be mindblowing if a low pass over Pluto could be planned so that NH will fly close by Charon as well, wouldn't it? - Or maybe even - to go really out on a limb - a few high-speed figure 8's around both bodies, before the probe continues on its merry way. Would that even be physically possible? At least I'm not suggesting aero-braking if Pluto turns out to have a tenuous atmosphere. |
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Apr 16 2008, 03:12 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 2262 Joined: 9-February 04 From: Melbourne - Oz Member No.: 16 |
but is a substantial course change envisaged at Pluto, or will it fly by so far away that the course change will be negligible? Clearly the deflection by Pluto (+moons) is going to be tiny - but I'd be interesting to know just how tiny is it? -------------------- |
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Apr 16 2008, 06:44 PM
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#3
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
Clearly the deflection by Pluto (+moons) is going to be tiny - but I'd be interesting to know just how tiny is it? Well, Pluto has 0.2% the mass of Earth, and New Horizons will pass 12,500 km away. That means the max acceleration due to gravity will be 0.0005 g, or about 0.005 m/s^2. Calculus or modeling are required to get a true answer, but if we assume that that acceleration were in effect for 1500 seconds, it would impart a total delta-v of 7.5 m/s. That should be the right order of magnitude. That is 0.0005 of the velocity of NH (more or less to right angles to its path), which would alter NH's heading by 0.03 degrees. Close enough to zero for you? |
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