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Engineering Tool

Ascent Gravity Loss Estimator

Estimate Delta-V lost to gravity during ascent.

Gravity drag (or gravity loss) is the integral of the vertical component of local gravity over the ascent duration. It is minimized by achieving horizontal orbital velocity as quickly as possible (pitching over early).

Telemetry & Orbits

Tracking the physical infrastructure of the modern orbital economy.

~9,000
Active Satellites in LEO (2024)
$450k
Suborbital Ticket Price
400 km
Average ISS Altitude
04.

Historical Context

Lunar Orbit Rendezvous (LOR)

The controversial engineering decision that made the 1969 moon landing possible, and why we are returning to it for Artemis.

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Archive Note

Understanding the mass penalties of direct ascent is critical to evaluating modern heavy-lift vehicle architectures.

05.

Astrophysics & Environment

Deep Space Radiation Hazards

Galactic Cosmic Rays, Solar Proton Events, and shielding strategies for long-duration human spaceflight.

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Atmospheric Drag & Decay

Why low orbits aren't permanent, and how solar weather affects satellite lifetimes during Solar Max.

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