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[Horn]

Satellite breakup analysis

Attachment 1211

The left side of the figure (A) shows the orbital change
that results from a velocity increment component along the
direction of the satellite track. The originally circular
orbit becomes an ellipse with a perigee equal to the circular
radius, and a larger apogee. In (B) the velocity component
is in the direction opposite to the satellite motion. The
orbit becomes elliptical, with the apogee now equal to the
circular radius, and a smaller perigee.

http://www.spaceacademy.net.au/watch.../collision.htm

[Joe King]

So you want to plan collisions in the hopes that a few pieces of the debris might gain enough velocity to be ejected from orbit while littering the space around Earth with lots of debris that doesn't get ejected?

Besides, the article you posted doesn't even mention anything about ejecting debris from Earth orbit. It just says a new orbit for each piece of debris will be the result.

As each fragment is ejected from the collision it assumes a new orbit dependent upon the magnitude of the ejection velocity, and the direction of this velocity vector with respect to the velocity vector of the satellite at the time of collision. The momentum of the impactor is generally so much smaller than the momentum of the target that it can be ignored. The component of the velocity in the direction of the original target orbit will affect the shape and size of the orbit. An initially circular orbit will be turned into an elliptical orbit with a different period than the circular orbit. Whether the ellipse if larger or smaller than the original circle is determined by whether the velocity component is in the same or opposite direction as the original target motion. This is illustrated in the figure below.

[Horn]

So you want to plan collisions in the hopes that a few pieces of the debris might gain enough velocity to be ejected from orbit

Where do you come up with your interpretations?

[Joe King]

The article you posted referred to collisions of satellites.
...and their subsequent breakup into pieces and attaining different orbits.

[Horn]

its an article on what happens to all the space junk that's already up there.

I guess this is the future solution?

http://www.tgdaily.com/space-feature...ected-in-space

I'd strap a booster to that sail and send it into the sun when its done.

[Joe King]

That's about de-orbiting a satellite so it burns up in the atmosphere, not ejecting it from Earth orbit and further into space as you were asking about.

As of Aug. 31, the 100-square-foot sail has been unfurled for over 222 days and the satellite has lowered its altitude by over 140 km, or 87 miles. Its rate of descent depends upon both the solar activity and its current orbital attitude, or sail pointing direction. The satellite will be viewable again in early October.

Edited to add: If you're going to strap a booster to it, you wouldn't need that sail.

[Horn]

Edited to add: If you're going to strap a booster to it, you wouldn't need that sail.

Accountants and insurance companies would concur.

[Joe King]

So what you're saying is that you propse the strapping of boosters to defunkt satellites in orer to propel them into deep space, or possibly the Sun?

[sirgonzo420]

I'm with Horn.

And Joe King.

[ximmy]

I'm with Horn.

And Joe King.

It's fun to be with Joe...
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