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From: DIETZ@slb-test.CSNET ("Paul F. Dietz")
Newsgroups: sci.space
Subject: Space Telescope
Message-ID: <8610261943.AA15152@s1-b.arpa>
Date: Sun, 26-Oct-86 09:38:00 EST
Article-I.D.: s1-b.8610261943.AA15152
Posted: Sun Oct 26 09:38:00 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 27-Oct-86 01:44:07 EST
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 9

Not only will pointing the ST at earth damage some of its sensors,
but there's a possibility that looking at bright debris in earth
orbit could damage one of the more sensitive detectors.  The
article I read that in points out that in the 17 year lifespan
of the telescope there's a good chance it will be hit by a millimeter
sized chunk of orbital debris or meteor (and about a 1% chance of
a collision with a large chunk that would nearly certainly destroy
the satellite).  Much larger scopes will have to be built in high
orbit.