[extropy-chat] SPACE: Deep Impact shows strong spectral lines...

[spike]

> bounces at lists.extropy.org] On Behalf Of Mike Lorrey
> 
> ... it appears that using
> Tempel as a bus for an orbital transfer can happen about every 12
> years...
> 
> Mike Lorrey

When you say "using Tempel as a bus" it sounds like you are
somehow riding it, or it is providing something other than
propellant.  If you want to land on Tempel, you have already
provided the delta V to match its orbit.  In that case, you
would end up at its aphelion with or without the comet.  

It isn't clear to me why you would need the comet at all,
unless it is to fill your propellant tanks with 
whatever material available there, probably water, maybe
the methane.  Of course you will still need to come up
with a lot of energy to heat the propellant, which I
am assuming you would do via nuclear fission.  Is that
what you had in mind?

spike