Le 2016-01-08 22:52, clipka a écrit :
> Am 09.01.2016 um 00:39 schrieb Mike Horvath:
>> I'm building a spaceship in POV-Ray.
>>
>> I think that, normally, you want to put the maneuvering thrusters at the
>> cardinal directions of the spaceship so that you can turn most efficiently.
>>
>> But can you put them at other places too?
>>
>> I mean, instead of just the top/left/bottom/right, can you place
>> additional thrusters around the circumference of the ship?
>
> Certainly you can -- it'll actually be a bit more effective in terms of
> propellant consumption (probably by a factor of about 1.2).
>

The fuel-saving factor depends on the geometry of your spaceship (more 
specifically, its moment of inertia).  And you probably need to take the 
occupants' well being in consideration as well*, and not just your fuel 
mileage.

For example, if the Millenium Falcon wants to turn right, and only fires 
the left-side thruster to turn the ship (minimizing fuel consumption), 
it will rotate about an axis (called the "instantaneous center of 
zero-velocity") that's somewhere between the central turret and the 
cockpit - assuming an uniform mass distribution.  This means the cockpit 
will appear to move backwards.  to reduce motion-sickness from the crew, 
you would have to fire most thrusters as well, and the left-side ones a 
lot more, so that the instantaneous center of zero-velocity is right 
undeneath the cockpit, using a lot more fuel.

*Unless, of course, they have Star Trek-like inertial dampers.

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