Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip
The situation might change however if the pods moved too far away from the main craft at a right angle and then slowed down relative to it.
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No, you're falling prey to the same mistake you're trying to correct.
The spacecraft is, for all intents and purposes of the pod, stationary. Period.
If the pod moves far away from the mother craft - it will be far away. If it then accelerates in a direction toward the rear of the mother craft, well, it will now be moving toward the rear of the mothercraft. If it turns around and accelerates in the other direction, it will come back. With enough fuel, the pod can do rings around the mothership with free abandon.
Nothing the pod does will change the fact that the mother craft will behave as if stationary.