Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!ucbvax!space
From: KFL@MC.LCS.MIT.EDU ("Keith F. Lynch")
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Ditching the ET
Message-ID: <[MC.LCS.MIT.EDU].827203.860222.KFL>
Date: Sat, 22-Feb-86 15:50:22 EST
Article-I.D.: <[MC.LCS.MIT.EDU].827203.860222.KFL>
Posted: Sat Feb 22 15:50:22 1986
Date-Received: Wed, 26-Feb-86 04:05:36 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 13


    From: decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-crvax1!kaplow@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Reach for
    the Stars)

    I beleieve that they want the ET to burn up to prevent the shuttle
    orbital path from getting cluttered up with empty ETs.

  I think that the ET would be in an unstable orbit that would crash
into the Earth at a random point after a few weeks.  They ditch it,
even though it takes more energy, so that it will land in the ocean
and not hit anyone.  With a little more energy, it could be dragged up
to a stable orbital altitude.
								...Keith