Joat42 wrote:Keith_w wrote:..snip..
Why do you consider it to be so important that the object not have increased it's velocity relative to the planet it is departing using the gravity effect? It is the speed relative to the remainder of the stellar neighborhood that is important. In any case, I still have not seen a case for you that an object could not depart orbit around a planet using the gravity effect.
Joat42 wrote:Because if that would be the case a ball could also roll up a slope.
That can't happen unless you increase the speed of the object so it reaches escape velocity otherwise the object is bound to the planet by it's gravity well.
Keith_w wrote:So exactly why do you think that there would be an issue with launching KEVs from orbit at a speed which would allow the KEV to depart orbit in a way that would not cause an impact with the Safehold?
First you say that an object can increase it's speed using the "gravity effect" to reach escape velocity and leave the orbit. Then you say that it can be launched at enough speed to leave orbit?!?
One of the stated methods doesn't work unless you change the laws of physics.
Launch has many meanings, from Miriam-Webster:
Launch:
1a : to throw forward : hurl
b : to release, catapult, or send off (a self-propelled object) <launch a rocket>
2a : to set (a boat or ship) afloat
b : to give (a person) a start <launched her on a new career>
c (1) : to put into operation or set in motion : initiate, introduce (2) : to get off to a good start
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/launchIn this case, 1a, 1b, and 2c1 and 2 are appropriate definitions.
Again from the same site: Definition of ORBIT
1a : a path described by one body in its revolution about another (as by the earth about the sun or by an electron about an atomic nucleus); also : one complete revolution of a body describing such a path
b : a circular path
2: a range or sphere of activity or influence <within the president's orbit>
We know that the OBS is in ORBIT (see definition above) around Safehold. We know that in order to be effective as a bombardment system the KEW has to be sent away from the OBS (ie hurled, thrown or otherwise LAUNCHED, see definition above). We know that when used as an OBS the user desired that the KEW firmly impact Safehold in a very specific area (Alexandria, Khody's tomb and abbey, other places). This implies that there is a method of guidance attached to the KEW and also a method of communicating with the KEW in order to provide that guidance.
In this case there is no reason to suppose that the guidance and communication system could not be used to direct the KEW into a gravity-effect pass of said planet Safehold.