Talk:Luna-Mars Trade

All of the processes necessary for Luna-Mars trade are not sketched in any great detail, but it seems worth considering. If a mass accelerator can boost the supersonic landing Mars to low Mars orbit vehicle mentioned up to 1025 meters per second, then 49% of the take-off weight gets to orbit.--FARTHERRED11:28pm Central Standard Time 31 October 2008

Does the original creator realize that by inserting a slash in the article name, he has created a sub-article of Luna? - Jarogers2001 07:09, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Problems like that can be avoided if we disable subpages for mainspace articles. I believe Wikipedia has done this. However, it might be a better idea for Lunarpedia if we keep subpages for mainspace articles. In that case, I suggest moving the content to "Luna-Mars trade". T.Neo 07:41, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

Moving it was my thought as well. I rather like subpages. Any objections to a move? - Jarogers2001 16:14, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

• Aw shucks. It says right here on my Wiki Reference Card not to use slash, plus sign, number sign, or any of a number of kinds of brackets in a title. I did not have the reference card with me at a distant location but probably would not have consulted it anyway. This is one way to learn. I hope it is not too much trouble to move the article.--Farred 16:36, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

It can be moved just like any other article. There is no additional procedure. - Jarogers2001 03:53, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

If we disable it, we should also disable it for the seldom used GFDL namespace and the never used CC_Luna namespace, as they have teh same function as the main namespace, just not public domain. -- Strangelv 18:18, 1 November 2008 (UTC)

I see no reason to disable it at this time. I intend to use sub-articles in the future. - Jarogers2001 03:53, 2 November 2008 (UTC)

• Why should a Mars to low Mars orbit vehicle have wings and land supersonic? The wings should allow the vehicle to kill its orbital velocity through aerodynamic drag when returning to Mars and lift from the wings should allow the vehicle to set down gently on a runway. The orbital speed being considered is only about 40% faster than the SR-71 flew, and the Mars to low Mars orbit vehicle would only move through the atmosphere at that speed for a short time while reentering from orbit. If the SR-71 could tolerate 2450 meters per second for thousands of miles of flight, a Mars to low Mars orbit vehicle should be able to tolerate flying at 3440 meters per second through Mars' upper atmosphere for a few minutes. The vehicle would not move at orbital velocity when touching down on a runway, but it would still need to be supersonic to generate enough lift for a gentle landing.--Farred 02:47, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

A lifting reentry for martian cargo is an interesting idea. I have always contemplated capsule type landings. However, I am a bit skeptical about a supersonic landing. If I am correct, supersonic on Mars is faster then on Earth due to thinner air. And, even in the thinner air, any landing gear being deployed would have to resist this force. Add to that what the gear would encounter on contect with the ground, and I don't see a happy landing. To lower the landing speed, one would have to increase the lifting force. Maybe swing wings would work, they will incease compexity.

How is the shuttle launched from the Martian surface? Is it a vertical or horizontal launch? T.Neo 07:53, 4 November 2008 (UTC)

• In the case of the speed of sound T.Neo's memory serves falsely. The speed of sound is dependent directly on the temperature and inversely on molecular weight, but it is nearly independent of pressure. The suggested shuttle would take off vertically for the version that puts 36% of take-off weight into orbit. It would be thrown into the atmosphere near the peak of mount Olympus at 1025 meters per second in the version to be boosted by electric acceleration which is suggested to achieve 49% of take-off weight to orbit. STTO is a less demanding challenge for Mars than for Earth. --Farred 14:42, 5 November 2008 (UTC)

SSTO is definatly much easier on Mars then on Earth. What is the speed of sound on Mars? What would the landing speed for the shuttle be? WHat kind of forces would the landing gear endure? What would the heat sheild of such a craft be made of? T.Neo 16:07, 5 November 2008 (UTC)