Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login
Why fighting aliens in outer space isn't as fun as it sounds (pausebutton.substack.com)
2 points by MaximumMadness on Dec 18, 2019 | hide | past | favorite | 1 comment



When I was a kid, I wondered why the Battlestar Galactica and Star Wars fighters were able to turn such sharp corners. And for Star Wars, I don't mean just the X-wing, but mostly the Tie Fighters. That's some mad science right there.

I was told not to overthink it. But the same problems I noticed then are still here today. They can zoom by in space, but they won't be doing those high speed weaving asteroid avoidance maneuvers in real life any time soon.

The next (and last) Star Wars is sure to forget this bit of physics we all know instinctively today, but didn't know so much about in the 70's and 80's.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: