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Satellite Collision Debris May Hamper Space Launch
Matt_dk writes "The debris from a recent collision involving two communications satellites could pose a serious threat for future launches of spacecraft into a geostationary orbit, a Russian scientist said on Friday. Future launches will have to be adjusted with regard to the fact that the debris [from the collision] has spread over an 800-km area and will gather at a common orbit in 5-6 years."
to get into geostationary you have to pass the 300 mile mark. If you were to hit anything on the way.. bad stuff!
> I thought the collision was at like 300mi altitude. Now they'r saying this causes
> problems at Geosynchronous orbit?
> What am I missing?
The fact that in order to get from here to there one must cross the intervening space.
> I thought GEO was at like 30,000 miles above the earth.
Closer to 22,000.
> I didn't think the shuttle planned on traveling that high anyway.
Some of the wreckage was scattered into orbits that could intersect that of the Shuttle while it is on its way to Hubble.
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