On Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 7:23:53 PM UTC-8, nu...@bid.nes wrote:   
   > On Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 3:33:11 PM UTC-8, A Random Person wrote:   
   > > Let's say a torch missile (or anything) is on an intercept trajectory   
   towards   
   > > a target.   
   > > If the target makes a burn to counter, would it necessary take the same   
   amount   
   > > of delta-v for the missile to keep the intercept?   
   >    
   >   Velocity is a vector so it depends which way the target moves. Worse, the   
   target is now moving so the missile has to integrate its movement continuously   
   to hit it, successive-approximation-wise.   
   >    
   >   Generally I'd say no though. The farther the missile is from the target,   
   the larger the eventual effect of small lateral deltavee changes.   
   But in such a case, the extra time increases the effect of the target's burn   
   just as much as it does the missile's.   
   >    
   >    
   >   Mark L. Fergerson   
      
   Well, (if we are in flat space), the only possible initial state (before the   
   target begins evading, but the missile has an intercept), is the missile   
   moving straight at the target.   
   However, after the target makes it's burn, the missile can correct with an   
   identical burn (assuming it corrects instantly, but the effects of latencies   
   should be small), leaving it still moving straight at the target (just that   
   both have some common    
   velocity now). So, in flat space, any burn can be corrected for with an equal   
   amount of delta-v.   
   Does this apply in n-body dynamics though?   
   Also, could there be a scenario where latencies (such as from light-speed lag)   
   have a large effect on the cost of an intercept?   
      
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