On 12/1/2011 10:26 PM, Onno Meyer wrote:
What happens in orbit, and with muzzle velocities lower than the escape velocity?
You get a messy orbital mechanics problem.
* Firing a gun means the projectile makes an orbit change, with all the delta-V expended in a fraction of a second.
Correct.
* This new orbit might intersect with the surface of the planet, and with proper calculations it should be possible to hit a ground target. The impact could come hours or days after firing.
Unless you're deliberately trying for a delayed strike, it should take less than a single orbital period at your current altitude.
* Alternatively, the new orbit would be stable as well, but it happens to be on a collision course with another orbital object. Did I get the physics right?
Well, it could be stable and not on a collision course with anything.
Are there rules in 3E GURPS? What are they? The indirect fire rules and the space fire rules appear incompatible, unless I'm missing something.
Way beyond the level of math GURPS likes to involve. I'd use the indirect fire rules and note that, if the target moves during the time of flight, you can't hit unless you randomly scatter to its new position.
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