I'm a private spacefarer in the year 2050. What physics do I need to know?

[Krunchyman]

It's in the year 2050 and private spacecraft are as cheap and plentiful as Cessna Skyhawks were 40 years ago.

I'm a well-endowed spacefarer looking to get my own spacecraft and license; what physics am I going to need to know to operate my craft around celestial objects, e.g. the earth, moon and nearby asteroids?

 

[phinds]

It's in the year 2050 and private spacecraft are as cheap and plentiful as Cessna Skyhawks were 40 years ago.

I'm a well-endowed spacefarer looking to get my own spacecraft and license; what physics am I going to need to know to operate my craft around celestial objects, e.g. the earth, moon and nearby asteroids?

None. By that time, the autopilot will likely be smarter than you are.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

Yep. In Alan Dean Foster's HUMANX 'verse people like Flinx can travel among the stars without more than minimal skills and a good autopilot.

 

[newjerseyrunner]

None. By that time, the autopilot will likely be smarter than you are.

I agree.

I imagine that'd you'd have to know as much about the physics of gravity as a pilot would have to know the physics of lift (which is probably none.)

 

[stefan r]

I agree.

I imagine that'd you'd have to know as much about the physics of gravity as a pilot would have to know the physics of lift (which is probably none.)

Best to understand lift before flying airplanes.

 

[phinds]

Best to understand lift before flying airplanes.

I suspect that saying that in 2050 will be like saying today that you need to understand internal combustion engines in order to ride in a self-driving car.

 

[Khashishi]

If you plan on going on a zero g walk, you'd better at least understand Newton's laws.

 

[Noisy Rhysling]

People used to need to be able to read a map if they were going very far in a car.