how can space vehicles sustain years of flight to say jupiter?

Question

Without breaking down

Answer 1

Journey times are coming down as faster rockets are developed. The New Horizons probe, due to rendezvous with Pluto in 2015, was launched 26 January 2006 and received a gravity assist from Jupiter to speed it on its way to Pluto on 28 February 2007. Previous probes sent to Jupiter had taken 2 years or more to get there, but this one made it in 13 months.

But you have put your finger on an important aspect of space safety. There is no phoning the AA in space to give you a tow to the nearest garage, is there? And no layby where you can park up to wait for their arrival, either. The only garage there is is back on earth. And there aren't even any fuel dumps already deposited, as there are for jeeps in deserts, as emergency supplies in a crisis.

Unforeseen mechanical failures would have to be dealt with by the crew with what they have on board with them. Can they carry all the spare parts that might be needed? Would that not add to the payload and wouldn't an increased payload add to the fuel consumed or limit the range the rocket can reach?

The other obvious problem is that the amount of food, water to drink and air will have been calculated on the basis of an uninterrupted flight and would they stretch to permit downtime for repairs to take place?

The crew of Apollo 13 managed to limp back to Earth when their oxygen tank failed them. It was touch and go whether they would make it. And they were only three days away from home. How would a crew that was a year or more from home cope in such circumstances? And what would their survival chances be?

I think the grim reality is that until such time as we have viable colonies established on the Moon, Mars, Europa, Titan etc, with rescue mission capability, that mechanical failure of the spacecraft means an almost certain death sentence for the crew.

Answer 2

B'cause after the space vechile escapes the Earth's atmosphere then the vechile is in Vacume.That means the Space vechile is left with no air. Thus the Space shuttle has no Friction to WEAR AND TEAR. And according to the Newton's First law of Inertia, the space shuttle with initial push will go on to Jupiter if the direction is not changed by Gravity of other Planets. The Radiation of Sun is tackled With some Special Provisions.

Answer 3

The propulsion system only needs to start u moving in that direction and shut down. Then the rest is just station keeping until u are almost there. Then u reverse thrust and land.

Answer 4

When a spaceship is in space and is moving it won't stop because there is no gravity to stop it. If the spaceship did break down it would either crash land into Jupiter or fly past it and continue on it's flight forever.