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From: lcc.bob@LOCUS.UCLA.EDU (Bob English)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Getting stuff into Orbit
Message-ID: <8512271811.AA01848@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 13:02:27 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8512271811.AA01848
Posted: Fri Dec 27 13:02:27 1985
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> Date: Thu 26 Dec 85 13:26:02-EST
> From: FIRTH@tl-20b.arpa
> Subject: Getting stuff into Orbit

> Launch the two masses so that they meet at the point of intersection, one
> inbound and one outbound (and they had both better be on their first orbits,
> of course).  Let the masses be equal.  Then, they meet when travelling at
> the same speed (but in different directions), and with the same energy.
> Somehow, get then to join into one bigger mass.  The combined mass will
> then be travelling in a new orbit, whose major axis is perpendicular to
> the major axes of the old orbits, and with perigee the same 6400 miles.
> Apogee of course will be ~13600 miles.  The new mass is comfortably outside
> the atmosphere, and all propulsion was done on the ground.

If the major axis is perpendicular to the original major axes,
then the point of intersection will become the apogee of the new
orbit, not the perigee.  Most of the orbital energy will be lost
in the collision between the objects, and there won't be much
left to keep them up there.  I suspect this is a dead end.

--bob--