Travelling In A Straight Line In Space

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SUMMARY

In space, a rocket or spacecraft can travel in a straight line only when its propulsion system is active. Once the rockets are turned off, the vehicle will follow a geodesic path, which may not correspond to a straight line in all spacetime geometries. In flat Minkowski spacetime, this behavior aligns with the principle of inertia, where objects move along straight lines unless acted upon by external forces. Thus, the concept of a "straight line" in space is relative and depends on the context of the forces acting on the spacecraft.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Newton's laws of motion
  • Familiarity with the concept of geodesics in general relativity
  • Basic knowledge of Minkowski spacetime
  • Awareness of rocket propulsion principles
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of general relativity and geodesics
  • Explore Minkowski spacetime and its implications for motion
  • Learn about rocket propulsion systems and their operational mechanics
  • Investigate the effects of external forces on spacecraft trajectories
USEFUL FOR

Aerospace engineers, physicists, and students of astrophysics who are interested in the mechanics of spacecraft motion and the principles governing travel in space.

Sammyg
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I know all object in space have orbits and orbits can be changed but is it possible for rocket or a spacecraft to travel in a straight line.
 
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Sammyg said:
I know all object in space have orbits and orbits can be changed but is it possible for rocket or a spacecraft to travel in a straight line.

Hi Sammyg! :smile:

If it keeps firing its rockets, then it can follow any curve it likes, including a straight line.

but once the rockets are off, it can only travel in a straight line if it's going "straight up or down". :wink:
 
Sammyg said:
I know all object in space have orbits and orbits can be changed but is it possible for rocket or a spacecraft to travel in a straight line.

Travel straight with respect to what?
 
In general rel, there may not be such a thing as a straight line in a spacetime with a funny geometry. When not under the action of external forces, things travel along geodesics. In flat "minkowski" spacetime, this principle corresponds to straight lines and is simply a more general form of the principle of inertia.
 

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