Interplanetary travel
 

Hello,

I'm working on the space element of my multi-comprehensive omni-setting, in particular, for a near Earth-near future campaign.

I looked in GURPS 4e Space for some practical information on how orbital mechanics is used in relation to interplanetary travel, but as usual, that book was of no assistance. So a couple of questions -- is this kind of information covered in any of the volumes of GURPS Space Ships? or has anyone here got a relatively straightforward method for gaming this element of interplanetary travel?

Thanks for any replies.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

Sorry, I can't tell what it is about "orbital mechanics" you want to know. Are you lopking for Delta-V numbers or something?

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

I can tell you that there is no such thing as an orbital mechanics simulator that is both simple and even remotely complete.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

The wikipedia section on Hohmann transfer orbits might explain some things.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

I've used something like this chart from Atomic Rockets. Print it out, write in the travel times from one node to the next, and give your players a delta-V budget. Tell them that any excess delta-V can be used to shorten the trip time. You'll also need a chart of launch windows among your major destinations.

Far from perfect, but Good Enough for my non-physicist players.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

Thanks, that Atomic Rockets page is the stuff I'm talking about, but still nastily complex. I don't know if I can fathom it.

If there's a simpler variation for gaming purposes I'd be glad to hear about it.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

Well, maybe just use Celestia and calculate trip times over straight lines using given dV? Oversimplified it is, though.

Re: Interplanetary travel
 

SS1 has some stuff about travel times with various acceleration and delta-V