Additionally orbital mechanics would break down. If a dragon spacecraft at the same altitude as the ISS wouldn’t experience the same gravitational acceleration they would have differing orbital periods and thus velocities and could never dock (or perform proximity operations).
Maybe, assuming no active course corrections. Even still, differing mass would change the orbit with time when reaching moon or earth, no?
Edit: because gravity acts on differing masses different.
No it doesn’t. That’s literally its main distinguishing point.
Classic physics experiment: Drop a block of steel and a feather in a vacuum. Which hits the ground first? (On earth, with the same fall height, etc)
Tap for spoiler
Both impact the ground at the same time
Are you sure? I thought the experiment is the same mass of feathers and steel.
Yes
Wikipedia: Gravitational Acceleration first paragraph. Follow the [1] citation for a better source than Wikipedia.
Additionally orbital mechanics would break down. If a dragon spacecraft at the same altitude as the ISS wouldn’t experience the same gravitational acceleration they would have differing orbital periods and thus velocities and could never dock (or perform proximity operations).
TIL. Thanks :)