Quote:
Originally Posted by IsaacKuo
Since aeroscoop satellites experience drag every time they scoop up gas, they need some way to regain speed. The simplest solution is to use solar power to power an electric thruster; the thruster uses scooped up gas. However, it may also be possible to play games with a moon to steal energy from the moon. Mars has such moons; Venus doesn't.
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1. Electric motors in space still need reaction mass. So whether its some generationally improved ion engine, chemical thrust, or even a buncha aerosol cans glued to the wings, you're still needing fuel mass.
2. I wouldn't put too much stock in momentum stealing from Martian moons. They're not all that gravitationally impressive, otherwise we'd be using them already for satellite capture.