Re: superhero space navigation

Leonard Erickson wrote:

> Ok, I've been playing with a story idea involving superpowers. (Yeah,
> I know, not exactly hard sf)
> 
> What'm wondering is how someone who can "fly" and survive in outer
> space would navigate. Assuming no supersenses, of course.
> 
> I can see visual nabvigation between the earth and the moon. But
> beyond that getting lost would seem awfully easy.
> 
> And even near earth there are problems. I seem to recall that
> hand-held GPS units don't work and speeds much above 200 mph.
> 
> Are their "portable" (in the sense of "not bigger than a laptop" and
> "doesn't require huge batteries") GPS units that would work at high
> mach numbers or in low orbit?
> 
> And what will work for interplanetary navigation?

You don't say, but I'm guessing that you're assuming that they can 
travel awfully fast -- hey, they're superheroes, they'll do that -- and 
so plotting courses and using orbital mechanics is not the problem, but 
rather getting their bearings.

Remember, they have supervision, too.  All they have to do is consult an 
orrery of some kind before they take off, and they'll have no problem 
getting to where they need to go.

Seems to me like it would be kind of a no-brainer, with sufficient 
knowledge of the constellations and where things are supposed to be. 
Superheroes don't need to operate in prehistoric times, do they?  Either 
way, they can bring an astronomical ephemeris with them or something.

-- 
Erik Max Francis && max@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 && http://www.alcyone.com/max/
  San Jose, CA, USA && 37 18 N 121 57 W && AIM, Y!M erikmaxfrancis
   There is another world / Which is not of men.
    -- Li Bai, ca. 730