• solrize@lemmy.ml
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    2 months ago

    Are they using some interesting propulsion system or just old fashioned rockets? Space tug was supposed to be part of STS in the 1970s but it got cancelled iirc. Leaving just the now defunct space shuttle.

        • Bimfred@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          Ion and plasma drives. They’re electric and work very well. All the thrust of a hefty fart, but high specific impulse allows them to burn for a long time, so they’re great for maneuvering in the vacuum.

            • Bimfred@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              But exactly because of that, they don’t have yeet. Long periods of low thrust are great for long duration missions, like satellites, stations and interplanetary probes, awful for a TLI burn.

              • i_love_FFT@jlai.lu
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                2 months ago

                Also, is a bit more complicated to use in kerbal, because the manoeuvring node expects strong instantaneous impulse.