GRGR(17) Hauptstufe! (380.18)

[rj]

hm
> While this midpoint is a great metaphor, so is brenschluss. After cutoff, 
> everything is determined except for the influence of the wind, which is 
> chaotic.

Even before Brenschluss there are variables:

"It isn't safe, even inside, even in the house . . . nearly every day a
rocket misfires. Late in October, not far from the estate, one fell back
and exploded, killing 12 of the ground crew, breaking windows for
hundreds of meters all round, including the west window of the
drawing-room where Katje first saw her golden game-brother. The official
rumor stated that only fuel and oxidizer had gone off.  But Captain
Blicero, with a trembling--she must say nihilistic--pleasure, said that
the Amatol charge in the warhead had also exploded, making them as much
target as launch site. . . . " (96.17)

The purities of math (and of metaphor, I guess) don't always apply in
the real world. Mr P draws our attention to this breach. Even
Brenschluss is contingent; and as you point out, nature (the wind) is
liable to throw a spanner in gravity's works as well. That parabola in
practice is as wobbly as the planetary orbits around the sun (they are).

best