Where did Heinlein say “Once you get to Earth orbit, you're halfway to anywhere in the Solar System”?












7












$begingroup$


I know what it means. I've seen delta-V charts. But I don't know if Robert Heinlein wrote this down, or simply said it off-the-cuff to somebody.



Variations include:




  • "Reach low orbit, and your halfway ..." (See Space Access Society logo http://space-access.org)


  • "Make orbit, and you're halfway ..."



If we want to attribute this to him, a citable source would be handy.






low-earth-orbit history space-art







share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
    $endgroup$
    – uhoh
    2 days ago












  • $begingroup$
    Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
    $endgroup$
    – Diego Sánchez
    yesterday












  • $begingroup$
    I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
    $endgroup$
    – peterh
    yesterday










  • $begingroup$
    I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
    $endgroup$
    – mathreadler
    yesterday
















7












$begingroup$


I know what it means. I've seen delta-V charts. But I don't know if Robert Heinlein wrote this down, or simply said it off-the-cuff to somebody.



Variations include:




  • "Reach low orbit, and your halfway ..." (See Space Access Society logo http://space-access.org)


  • "Make orbit, and you're halfway ..."



If we want to attribute this to him, a citable source would be handy.






low-earth-orbit history space-art







share|improve this question











$endgroup$












  • $begingroup$
    This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
    $endgroup$
    – uhoh
    2 days ago












  • $begingroup$
    Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
    $endgroup$
    – Diego Sánchez
    yesterday












  • $begingroup$
    I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
    $endgroup$
    – peterh
    yesterday










  • $begingroup$
    I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
    $endgroup$
    – mathreadler
    yesterday














7












7








7


1



$begingroup$


I know what it means. I've seen delta-V charts. But I don't know if Robert Heinlein wrote this down, or simply said it off-the-cuff to somebody.



Variations include:




  • "Reach low orbit, and your halfway ..." (See Space Access Society logo http://space-access.org)


  • "Make orbit, and you're halfway ..."



If we want to attribute this to him, a citable source would be handy.






low-earth-orbit history space-art







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




I know what it means. I've seen delta-V charts. But I don't know if Robert Heinlein wrote this down, or simply said it off-the-cuff to somebody.



Variations include:




  • "Reach low orbit, and your halfway ..." (See Space Access Society logo http://space-access.org)


  • "Make orbit, and you're halfway ..."



If we want to attribute this to him, a citable source would be handy.






low-earth-orbit history space-art




low-earth-orbit history space-art






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 2 days ago









uhoh

39.4k18145500




39.4k18145500










asked 2 days ago









Rick 0xfffRick 0xfff

57549




57549












  • $begingroup$
    This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
    $endgroup$
    – uhoh
    2 days ago












  • $begingroup$
    Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
    $endgroup$
    – Diego Sánchez
    yesterday












  • $begingroup$
    I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
    $endgroup$
    – peterh
    yesterday










  • $begingroup$
    I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
    $endgroup$
    – mathreadler
    yesterday


















  • $begingroup$
    This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
    $endgroup$
    – uhoh
    2 days ago












  • $begingroup$
    Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
    $endgroup$
    – Diego Sánchez
    yesterday












  • $begingroup$
    I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
    $endgroup$
    – peterh
    yesterday










  • $begingroup$
    I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
    $endgroup$
    – mathreadler
    yesterday
















$begingroup$
This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 days ago






$begingroup$
This might possibly be on-topic here (not sure), but there is also Science Fiction SE and you are probably going to get faster, better, and more answers there than here. Consider asking there instead?
$endgroup$
– uhoh
2 days ago














$begingroup$
Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
$endgroup$
– Diego Sánchez
yesterday






$begingroup$
Just for the record, it should be noted that Heinlein seemed to have a good understanding of orbital mechanics. Books he wrote as early as the 1940' describe maneuvers that sound reasonable, not the usual "shoot from earth to mars in a couple hours".
$endgroup$
– Diego Sánchez
yesterday














$begingroup$
I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
$endgroup$
– peterh
yesterday




$begingroup$
I think 3/4 is more realistic, or even more.
$endgroup$
– peterh
yesterday












$begingroup$
I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
$endgroup$
– mathreadler
yesterday




$begingroup$
I don't know where, but it is true because if you escape elliptic gravity then it is so much cheaper to go anywhere you want. Any little thrust any direction is effective immediately.
$endgroup$
– mathreadler
yesterday










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















12












$begingroup$

This phrase was quoted by Jerry Pournelle in an article entitled "Halfway to Anywhere" first published in the Galaxy Magazine in the April 1974 Issue in his column "A Step Farther Out". This article was then collected with others into his book of the same name.



Here's the article's opening:




One of my rivals in the science-writing field usually begins his columns with a personal anecdote. Although I avoid slavish imitation, success is always worth copying. Anyway, the idea behind this column came from Robert Heinlein and he ought to get credit for it.

    Mr. Heinlein and I were discussing the perils of template stories—interconnected stories that together present a future history. As readers may have suspected, many future histories begin with stories that weren't necessarily intended to fit together when they were written. Robert Heinlein's box came with The Man Who Sold the Moon. He wanted the first flight to the moon to use a direct Earth-to-moon craft, not one assembled in orbit—but the story had to follow Blowups Happen in the future history.

    Unfortunately, in Blowups Happen a capability for orbiting large payloads had been developed. "Aha," I said. "I see your problem. If you can get a ship into orbit, you're halfway to the moon."

    "No," Bob said. "If you can get your ship into orbit, you're halfway to anywhere."

    He was very nearly right.




You can also read the whole article.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Rick 0xfff
    2 hours ago











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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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active

oldest

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active

oldest

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active

oldest

votes









12












$begingroup$

This phrase was quoted by Jerry Pournelle in an article entitled "Halfway to Anywhere" first published in the Galaxy Magazine in the April 1974 Issue in his column "A Step Farther Out". This article was then collected with others into his book of the same name.



Here's the article's opening:




One of my rivals in the science-writing field usually begins his columns with a personal anecdote. Although I avoid slavish imitation, success is always worth copying. Anyway, the idea behind this column came from Robert Heinlein and he ought to get credit for it.

    Mr. Heinlein and I were discussing the perils of template stories—interconnected stories that together present a future history. As readers may have suspected, many future histories begin with stories that weren't necessarily intended to fit together when they were written. Robert Heinlein's box came with The Man Who Sold the Moon. He wanted the first flight to the moon to use a direct Earth-to-moon craft, not one assembled in orbit—but the story had to follow Blowups Happen in the future history.

    Unfortunately, in Blowups Happen a capability for orbiting large payloads had been developed. "Aha," I said. "I see your problem. If you can get a ship into orbit, you're halfway to the moon."

    "No," Bob said. "If you can get your ship into orbit, you're halfway to anywhere."

    He was very nearly right.




You can also read the whole article.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Rick 0xfff
    2 hours ago
















12












$begingroup$

This phrase was quoted by Jerry Pournelle in an article entitled "Halfway to Anywhere" first published in the Galaxy Magazine in the April 1974 Issue in his column "A Step Farther Out". This article was then collected with others into his book of the same name.



Here's the article's opening:




One of my rivals in the science-writing field usually begins his columns with a personal anecdote. Although I avoid slavish imitation, success is always worth copying. Anyway, the idea behind this column came from Robert Heinlein and he ought to get credit for it.

    Mr. Heinlein and I were discussing the perils of template stories—interconnected stories that together present a future history. As readers may have suspected, many future histories begin with stories that weren't necessarily intended to fit together when they were written. Robert Heinlein's box came with The Man Who Sold the Moon. He wanted the first flight to the moon to use a direct Earth-to-moon craft, not one assembled in orbit—but the story had to follow Blowups Happen in the future history.

    Unfortunately, in Blowups Happen a capability for orbiting large payloads had been developed. "Aha," I said. "I see your problem. If you can get a ship into orbit, you're halfway to the moon."

    "No," Bob said. "If you can get your ship into orbit, you're halfway to anywhere."

    He was very nearly right.




You can also read the whole article.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Rick 0xfff
    2 hours ago














12












12








12





$begingroup$

This phrase was quoted by Jerry Pournelle in an article entitled "Halfway to Anywhere" first published in the Galaxy Magazine in the April 1974 Issue in his column "A Step Farther Out". This article was then collected with others into his book of the same name.



Here's the article's opening:




One of my rivals in the science-writing field usually begins his columns with a personal anecdote. Although I avoid slavish imitation, success is always worth copying. Anyway, the idea behind this column came from Robert Heinlein and he ought to get credit for it.

    Mr. Heinlein and I were discussing the perils of template stories—interconnected stories that together present a future history. As readers may have suspected, many future histories begin with stories that weren't necessarily intended to fit together when they were written. Robert Heinlein's box came with The Man Who Sold the Moon. He wanted the first flight to the moon to use a direct Earth-to-moon craft, not one assembled in orbit—but the story had to follow Blowups Happen in the future history.

    Unfortunately, in Blowups Happen a capability for orbiting large payloads had been developed. "Aha," I said. "I see your problem. If you can get a ship into orbit, you're halfway to the moon."

    "No," Bob said. "If you can get your ship into orbit, you're halfway to anywhere."

    He was very nearly right.




You can also read the whole article.






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$



This phrase was quoted by Jerry Pournelle in an article entitled "Halfway to Anywhere" first published in the Galaxy Magazine in the April 1974 Issue in his column "A Step Farther Out". This article was then collected with others into his book of the same name.



Here's the article's opening:




One of my rivals in the science-writing field usually begins his columns with a personal anecdote. Although I avoid slavish imitation, success is always worth copying. Anyway, the idea behind this column came from Robert Heinlein and he ought to get credit for it.

    Mr. Heinlein and I were discussing the perils of template stories—interconnected stories that together present a future history. As readers may have suspected, many future histories begin with stories that weren't necessarily intended to fit together when they were written. Robert Heinlein's box came with The Man Who Sold the Moon. He wanted the first flight to the moon to use a direct Earth-to-moon craft, not one assembled in orbit—but the story had to follow Blowups Happen in the future history.

    Unfortunately, in Blowups Happen a capability for orbiting large payloads had been developed. "Aha," I said. "I see your problem. If you can get a ship into orbit, you're halfway to the moon."

    "No," Bob said. "If you can get your ship into orbit, you're halfway to anywhere."

    He was very nearly right.




You can also read the whole article.







share|improve this answer














share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer








edited yesterday









imallett

619411




619411










answered 2 days ago









OONOON

1,299511




1,299511












  • $begingroup$
    Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Rick 0xfff
    2 hours ago


















  • $begingroup$
    Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
    $endgroup$
    – Rick 0xfff
    2 hours ago
















$begingroup$
Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
$endgroup$
– Rick 0xfff
2 hours ago




$begingroup$
Okay, this seems to be the unanimous answer.
$endgroup$
– Rick 0xfff
2 hours ago


















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