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==Meaning== | |||
Reaction Control System | |||
===References=== | |||
* Colonial [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] | |||
* Colonial [[Battlestar (RDM)|Battlestar]] | |||
==Description== | |||
The reaction control system is designed to provide a spacecraft with guidance and steering. It has two main functions: | |||
* Delivering small amounts of thrust in any desired direction or combination of directions | |||
* Providing torque to allow control of rotation (pitch, yaw, and roll). | |||
Reaction control systems are typically used for: | |||
* Attitude control during entry into an atmosphere until such time as conventional aerodynamic surfaces can be used | |||
* Stationkeeping in orbit | |||
* Close maneuvering and/or docking | |||
* Orientation control (pointing the nose of the vehicle). | |||
==Colonial Use== | |||
All Colonial vessels utilise RCS systems for manoeuvring / station keeping, although the scale of the systems varies widely. | |||
* Vipers, Raptors and all smaller craft appear to use "cold" RCS systems, most likely utilising either an inert gas or possibly a high specific-impulse hypergolic fuel mixture | |||
* Very large vessels use strategically-mounted sets of very large fuel-burning thrusters, relying on the brute force of such systems to overcome interia during manoeuvres. | |||
==Cylon Use== | |||
Cylon manuevering technology is unclear at this time. However, it is likely their vehicle use RCS systems that are similar in form and function to Colonial systems. | |||
[[Category:A to Z]] | |||
[[Category:RDM]] | |||
[[Category:Technology]] | |||
[[Category:Terminology]] | |||