this post was submitted on 05 Apr 2026
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[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 0 points 1 month ago (2 children)

So they just dump the wastewater into space? What happens when the next mission hits that at 2000mph?

[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

The waste water dumps also travels at 2000mph, so it just floats in space with them until it flies off in its jettisoned direction.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

But they are on a return trajectory because of the moon's gravity. So I guess the wastewater will come back towards earth?

[–] 9tr6gyp3@lemmy.world 0 points 1 month ago

If the waste water has not entered the lunar gravity, then i imagine itll return to earth after a while. Keep an eye out for raining turds for the next 50 years or so

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Space big, like really big. Everything moves in circles kinda. Nothing goes the same way twice more or less, just a few special places. So its fine.

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

On thinking about this, it has basically the same trajectory as the ship, which is to use the moon's gravity to come around and head back to earth. So the wastewater would do the same?

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Maybe, assuming no active course corrections. Even still, differing mass would change the orbit with time when reaching moon or earth, no?

Edit: because gravity acts on differing masses different.

[–] Starfighter@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

No it doesn't. That's literally its main distinguishing point.

Classic physics experiment: Drop a block of steel and a feather in a vacuum. Which hits the ground first? (On earth, with the same fall height, etc)

Tap for spoilerBoth impact the ground at the same time

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Are you sure? I thought the experiment is the same mass of feathers and steel.

[–] Starfighter@discuss.tchncs.de 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Yes

Within the same gravitational field, all bodies accelerate in vacuum at the same rate, regardless of the masses or compositions of the bodies; [1]

Wikipedia: Gravitational Acceleration first paragraph. Follow the [1] citation for a better source than Wikipedia.

Additionally orbital mechanics would break down. If a dragon spacecraft at the same altitude as the ISS wouldn't experience the same gravitational acceleration they would have differing orbital periods and thus velocities and could never dock (or perform proximity operations).

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 0 points 1 month ago

TIL. Thanks :)