TI-57 Lunar Lander ?

[Thomas Okken]

(02-07-2019 04:27 AM)Paul Dale Wrote:  

(02-04-2019 10:42 PM)Thomas Okken Wrote:  I'm guessing he doesn't remember, because it can't be done. If you free-fall until just before impact, you end up falling with a speed of 85 at an altitude of 27.5. Burning 90 units of fuel at that point kills your speed, but only once you're at altitude -15. Splat.

Would it be possible to burn more fuel than this such that zero altitude is achieved exactly? You'll be travelling upwards but the programme might not care.

Yes, just wait until the last moment and then burn 120 units, i.e. everything. You end up with 30.0000, i.e. altitude 0 and moving up at 30 ft/s. The program only cares about negative altitude at the end of a time interval; it's up to the player to know that only 0.0000 means a successful landing.