|
Escape velocity assumes unpowered.
The 777 is powered, so velocity is immaterial.
There's lots of other reasons a 777 can't get into orbit, but being unable to reach a particular velocity isn't one of them.
Otherwise it wouldn't be possible to put up a really, really long ladder and climb into space - which it patently is.
|
|
|
|
|
If escaping earth's gravity was so easy and could happen unintentionally, do you think NASA would have spent billions of dollars to build high power rockets to launch its space shuttles?
|
|
|
|
|
Shameel wrote: do you think NASA would have spent billions of dollars to built high power roc on a space ready Biro when the Russians took a pencil
FTFY.
|
|
|
|
|
Um. They didn't, it's an urban myth.
An ordinary Biro works fine in space since it uses capillary action to add ink to the ball. Pencils are not allowed in space, because the fragments that break off (in use and when you sharpen them) are both sharp (and thus rather uncomfortable to get your eyes for example) and highly conductive - with is a bad thing to have floating around in an area full of electrical equipment... 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
|
|
|
|
|
OriginalGriff wrote: They didn't, it's an urban myth.
I know but couldn't find the sarcasm icon.
|
|
|
|
|
The wink icon can be used as a substitute. 
Just because the code works, it doesn't mean that it is good code.
|
|
|
|
|
What baffles me is that you can locate something as small as a mobile phone anywhere on the Earth using GPS and you don't have the technology to locate an aircraft. I thought the Black Box must have a GPS transmitter that can relay the aircraft's location to the nearest satellite or ATC.
|
|
|
|
|
Nope. Black boxes have radio transmitters, but they are well buried in the plane superstructure to give them the best chance of survival and probably couldn't get a GPS signal. Heck, it's bad enough getting a good GPS contact when you are in a tunnel, never mind under the ocean! 
Those who fail to learn history are doomed to repeat it. --- George Santayana (December 16, 1863 – September 26, 1952)
Those who fail to clear history are doomed to explain it. --- OriginalGriff (February 24, 1959 – ∞)
|
|
|
|
|
Usually GPS isn't trying to locate something at the bottom of the ocean.
|
|
|
|
|
Not exactly 'Global' then is it? Should rename it.
|
|
|
|
|
They need to make a Glub-glub-glubbal network.
|
|
|
|
|
How about TPS? Terrestrial Positioning System 
|
|
|
|
|
They could try and triangulate the signals[^].
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Do not feed the troll ! - Common proverb
|
|
|
|
|
That Guy wrote: exit the gravitational pull of the Earth .. in orbit
This is mutually exclusive. An object in orbit is in orbit because it is under the influence of gravity - without that, it would be flying off in a straight line.
Also, an airplane with engines that breathe air (which is most of them, but not all) can never achieve orbit (not under their own power anyway). In order to achieve orbit, you need to raise your periapsis above the atmosphere, which can only do from above that altitude, which means you can't be using an air-breathing engine to do it.
Achieving escape velocity with an airplane is possible if you cheat, just strap rockets to an airplane, and make it happen outside the atmosphere. Doesn't really count, in my opinion. With an actual airplane, inside the atmosphere, under its own power - not going to happen. For one, you'd need a blunt heat shield just to avoid disintegrating. Also, you couldn't have wings. And I'm not sure even a scramjet will still work at that speed (some predictions give it a maximum speed of Mach 24 - not enough).
modified 11-Mar-14 11:08am.
|
|
|
|
|
A story just broke on Fox News.
Evidently the pilot 'floored it' and the plane is currently in space.
Wow, aren't you embarrassed?
|
|
|
|
|
|
I'll put you down as a 'plane in space' denier.
|
|
|
|
|
MehGerbil wrote: denier
Isn't that something to do with bank robbers faces (or ladies bottoms, I forget which)?
The evidence for planes in space[^]
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
|
|
|
|
|
Listen, kid ![^]
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Entropy isn't what is used to.
|
|
|
|
|
harold aptroot wrote: you can't be using an air-breathing engine to do it
99.99% of people have no clue about how a rocket _really_ works, and think it is a kind of bigger robuster airplane, with extra tanks.
~RaGE();
I think words like 'destiny' are a way of trying to find order where none exists. - Christian Graus
Entropy isn't what is used to.
|
|
|
|
|
To be honest, I'd never considered the differences between a jet engine and a rocket.
Anything beyond an internal combustion engine looks like magic to me.
|
|
|
|
|
That's not surprising, 99.99% of people are idiots.
|
|
|
|
|
2048[^]
Because if I only got 3 hours of sleep last night, why should you get anything done at work today?
Personal best: 1024 (EDIT that's a 1024 tile, not the score. no idea what I had there...)
Edit2: beat the thing last night. Score just over 20k.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
modified 12-Mar-14 8:40am.
|
|
|
|
|
Doesn't seem to work with Chrome.
|
|
|
|
|
I spent lat 10 minutes wit it - it words perfectly for me...
I'm not questioning your powers of observation; I'm merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is. (V)
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
