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From: throopw@dg_rtp.UUCP (Wayne Throop)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: Getting stuff into Orbit
Message-ID: <63@dg_rtp.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Dec-85 16:07:04 EST
Article-I.D.: dg_rtp.63
Posted: Sun Dec 29 16:07:04 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 31-Dec-85 00:39:48 EST
References: <8512261825.AA16515@s1-b.arpa>
Lines: 15

> 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.

That's one *hell* of a "somehow", I expect!  First, you are going to
have to store or dissipate the energy of a few kilometers-per-second
velocity difference in order to acomplish the "join".  Then, if you
haven't vaporized the cargo yet, you have to consider the accelerations
that the cargo will experience during the "join".  Can you say
"pancake"?  I knew you could.
-- 
Wayne Throop at Data General, RTP, NC
<the-known-world>!mcnc!rti-sel!dg_rtp!throopw