Xref: utzoo sci.space:8461 sci.space.shuttle:2055
Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcae!hubcap!gatech!uflorida!haven!ames!lll-tis!oodis01!uplherc!esunix!bpendlet
From: bpendlet@esunix.UUCP (Bob Pendleton)
Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle
Subject: Re: Stopping Space and Light Pollution.
Message-ID: <1099@esunix.UUCP>
Date: 21 Nov 88 22:30:51 GMT
References: <1988Nov17.173505.7601@utzoo.uucp>
Organization: Evans & Sutherland, Salt Lake City, Utah
Lines: 36

From article <1988Nov17.173505.7601@utzoo.uucp>, by henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer):
> In article <1084@esunix.UUCP> bpendlet@esunix.UUCP (Bob Pendleton) writes:
>>> Breaking the existing
>>> debris up into smaller bits is the *last* thing we want to do.
>>
>>Not really. Even a fairly heavy rain of microscopic particles can be
>>stopped more easily than one large chunk.
> 
> *Microscopic* particles aren't that much of a problem.  

Nice to hear that you agree with me. I think my assumptions came
through quite well.

[Restatement of the obvious deleted. Yes I agree with you too.]

> Unfortunately, hypervelocity collisions are non-intuitive in some
> ways.  Based on the SDI Delta experiment, if two fairly large chunks hit
> each other, the shock wave from the instant of first contact explodes
> both, and the debris clouds then pass through each other without interacting
> much.

Yes, I read AW&ST too. My wife qualifies for the cheap rate. She
doesn't mind that I read it first, and sometimes she even helps with
the long words.

Sarcasm aside; What is the average particle size resulting from
hypervelocity collisions? And how does it vary for different
materials? I don't know. If you know please tell me. That will settle
the question. No one knows?  Then I aggree that more testing is
needed.

			Bob P.
-- 
              Bob Pendleton, speaking only for myself.
UUCP Address:  decwrl!esunix!bpendlet or utah-cs!esunix!bpendlet

		Reality is what you make of it.