Correct me if I am wrong all but there is absolutly no friction for a shuttle in space thus even the slightest force acting upon it would cause it to move opposite that force in accordance to newtons second law? Now if that is true it would mean the basic idea of the combustion happening from the fuel and air stores on the ship would only have one way to exit which is where ever the rocket points. It would then make perfect sence that the combustion pushing on the inner shuttle would push it along effortlessly? Anyone?

Originally posted by Phage
Oh, alright. I'll bite.

Newton's Third Law of motion: For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Nothing needs to "push against" anything to move. Rockets send gasses backward, moving the vehicle forward. The propeller of an airplane sends air backward, moving the aircraft forward. When you swim in water you move water backward, moving your body forward. Here's a real tough one (this ought to be good): when you walk, you move the earth backward, moving your body forward.

I like this, but what if your doing the moonwalk, then you would be pushing the earth forward again, but people would be like, "Dude, look over there, that guy is doing the moonwalk....Michael Jackson Style...Hee Hee, Common Girl"

I like that thought, but I instantly saw the glittery socks and black loafers...and almost rolled over laughing...Thanks for the smile. Peace

Originally posted by Manasseh
Here's my theory.

No one knows diddly squat about what they think they know everything about.

Therefore, one should trust God, as he/she/it is the ultimate creator.

Coming from someone who works for his maker, I am glad to see
relative silence from those who "know it all" on this subject.

Oh, by the way, your government is lying through their teeth.

In a sense God is law. The material universe obeys His law. We are free to discover the law and use it. Newton's laws of motion aren't something Newton invented but something Newton discovered about His creation. Newton was no atheist by any stretch of the imagination.

Now, back to the subject.

How do you produce thrust without air to push against?

[edit on 14-8-2008 by alien]

Space is NOT actually a TRUE vacuum as there is hydrogen gas and
energetic particles (i.e. Helium Nuclei) and electromagnetic forces at play
throughout our nearby "space".

Since rocket motors are enclosed systems and 2nd law of
thermodynamics MUST be respected, the amount of mass
expelled/expended by the runaway oxidization reaction
of a rocket motor must be converted to energy and mass
of SOME KIND be it heat (i.e. the flame you see at the business
end of said rocket motor) or kinetic energy (i.e. forward movement)
and/or large amounts of particles of waste material expelled.

The enclosure itself forms the thrust mechanism where the
particles/waste product MUST somehow find themselves
moving away from a central expansion point (i.e. central
point of explosion or burn) and any material that's blocked
from escape must re-route itself towards the nearest
escape point which will happen to be the nozzle of the rocket.

And following Newtonian laws, for every action there is an
equal and opposite reaction thus the craft is propelled forward
by the oxidized gases that were BLOCKED from an initial
escape and rerouted to a viable exit point at such a rate
that the rocket craft itself has an equal reaction of trying
to distance itself from the expanding gases and thus
the forward movement is created.

The expanding gases are NOT pushing themselves upon
any general medium but it is the spacecraft and expanding
gases that are trying to repel each other away from a
central expansion point which is in the fuel combustion chamber.

As fuel and oxidizer is added to the combustion chamber,
and since the combustion chamber is permanently attached
to the rest of the spacecraft, there MUST be an opposite
reaction that allows the gases to move away from the
central expansion point thus we get linear thrust
that allows the spacecraft and the expanding gases
to move apart.

Hope that explanation helps !!!

More info:

There is also conjecture as to whether space itself is a medium
of dark energy that in itself could be "Surfed" much like surfers
speeding across a powerful ocean current.

Since dark energy would ripple and flow much like the chaotic
ocean currents but at speeds that would exceed the speed
of light, it is likely that starships could ride the crests of dark energy
waves at warp speeds allowing us to achieve interstellar travel.

I suspect engineers at Lockheed Martin Skunkworks,
Northrup Special Projects and Boeing PhantomWorks
ALREADY understand the physics of what I am describing
and are in fact ACTIVELY USING those dark energy effects
to propel interstellar-capable spacecraft across our skies.