Out with the streamlining, in with the RL physics

Gordion Knott — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 06:28:55 -0800

Let's say you're thrust headlong into a dogfight engagement in space. Era and galaxy of your choosing. What would the real-world physics look like? Fessing up here. I'm a dedicated, white-knuckled fan (er, on occasion) of the dogfights in Star Wars and Battlestar Galactica, with their dopplering sound effects, banking fixed wing aircraft, and atmosphere-based physics in "space." All the same, I sometimes wonder what a real-world engagement would look like. In particular:

-Fighter design: Streamlining is out the window, of course. But what would an optimal design be? Spherical, cubical? Riddled with gun emplacements (due to the lack of air friction)?
-Tactical issues: Assuming we want manueverability, what types of rockets and thrusters would be used? Problems with inertia in a gravity-free environment?
-Strategic issues: Would a space dogfight even be feasible -- or desirable? How about those dreadnought-class battleships, a la Star Wars. Would these be useful platforms for battle? (You'd assume they'd exert gravitational pull on smaller craft).
-Non-Classical physics: Particle entanglement, extra dimensions, quantum effects -- any way to exploit these?

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Out with the streamlining, in with the RL physics