Why didn't they just drop the tanks and come back for them later?
Aside from all the other design flaws that no one would put in their system, like no ability to access the whole ship safely, no ability to stop and restart the spin, no rules about tethering to the ship during EVA, ... I could go on and on.
I haven't seen the film. From your comment some tanks were causing a problem; mass or whatever. Your solution is drop them off and come back for them later. My question is: how? I assume you are suggesting they can pick them up on the way back to earth. That simply doesn't work. The ship isn't going to come anywhere close to that point on the way back.
It isn't like driving between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Take I-5, drop something off on the way and it will be there on the way back. That's because Los Angeles and San Francisco aren't moving. (well, technically not moving relative to each other.) Earth and Mars are moving relative to each other. The path between them will differ from moment to moment. That path will be the same only when Earth and Mars are in the same relative position, and only in the same direction. I'm not mathematician enough to calculate the time span between such occurrences, but certainly more than a year (Earth).
Are you trolling? You conception of the problem is not even in the same universe as the movie.
https://youtu.be/hic0mz3_U4c?list=RDCMUCxzC4EngIsMrPmbm6Nxvb-A&t=168
As I said, I haven't seen it. But the statement "Why didn't they just drop the tanks and come back for them later?" when applied to spaceships and orbital mechanics seems self evident. You cannot just pick them up on the way back. You won't pass anywhere close to them on the way back.
shareThere you do again ... not in orbit, it has nothing to do with orbit, they are not in orbit.
shareOk, so what you are saying is the tanks are dumped on Earth. Or on Mars. If you are saying they are being dumped anywhere in space, than orbital mechanics apply. ANYTHING dumped into space will be moving, the dumper is moving, the home location and the destination are all moving; thus orbital mechanics apply.
If you are speaking of dumping something on a planet, than normal mechanics would apply and you could pick something up on the way back from wherever.
Hey Poindexter ... watch the video, it shows the design of the spaceship, and talks about the plot. Or just see the movie. Quit beating the dead horse to death.
shareI'm unlikely to see the film any time soon. I see you don't answer the question. The design of the ship isn't relevant. What is relevant is where you suggest this tanks should be dumped. If it is anywhere in space then you cannot just pick them up on the way pack. That is simple orbital mechanics. Any movement of a spaceship is orbital mechanics. The broader term would be celestial mechanics which includes the planets and other objects, but practically there is little difference.
So, the simple question is: where are the tanks being dumped?
And, as to your accusation: it is not trolling to ask questions based on suggestions made by other posters. If I were trolling I would likely drop some kind of contentious bomb and then sit back to watch the "fun" I don't find that sort of thing fun. I do find it interesting to explore the rational basis of a film's plot.
Just from what I have read in the various topics, this is a variation of the short story "The Cold Equations" which means it is attempting to stick very closely to real world technology and mechanics. As such, as suggestion such as dumping the tanks and picking them up later is very different then if it was in a film which requires a larger suspension of disbelief, such as Star Trek or Star Wars or other films where spaceflight is much easier and is not as dependant on initial points of gravity, acceleration, trajectories and other criteria which make current space travel a complex and restrictive activity.
They're not dropping the tanks into space. They're talking about leaving the tanks in one part of the ship that's only accessible from outside after a long and difficult EVA. There's a solar storm coming, and they have to get back to the main part of the ship and into the radiation shelter. The issue was whether to take one tank that was ready to go, or leave it with #2 and come back for both later.
shareGee, was that so hard to tell me? I'm not sure why so many posters seem to be incapable of giving information. The assumption I was making was obvious and a simple statement that they were putting them in another part of the ship would have solved the entire issue.
I hate to reveal it, but everyone doesn't have time to watch every film. For fun I flip around MovieChat and follow various links and films, especially the ones that appear on the Home Page as trending or with recent comments. I allow a certain amount of time per day for that for fun.
I do watch a lot of films, but I can't watch them all. The OP intrigued me because I have seen many people who don't understand orbital mechanics. (i.e. any movement through space), right up to why a current technology spaceship can't just stop and go back the way it came. I believe sharing knowledge is a good thing. I read others who share their expertise and I share what I know. That isn't going to change.
And just to be clear from your saying they weren't dropping the tanks from orbit: my comments would apply to them dropping the tanks anywhere in space, in orbit of Earth, orbit of Mars, or anywhere in between.
Just watch the damned movie!
share