From: Trask, Robert E (TraskRE@corning.com)
Date: Fri Jul 20 2001 - 12:10:38 MDT
> > If it were that easy (bolts? sand?) why would you need the lasers in the first place.
>
> Because your LASER battle station is in orbit so you know where it will be at time X
> thanks to Mr. Newton, an ICBM is not and you don't.
>
There are actually SIX things (Orbital Elements) you have know to predict an objects location at a given time in orbit, and we can thank Mr. Kepler. They are not static and have to be updated constantly because of gravitational and high atmosphere influences.
> >Whadya gonna do, toss 'em from the ISS, and then put little rockets in them
> >to line them up in a proper orbit.
>
> Why in the name of all that's holy would I launch it from the ISS??
> That's about the worst place I can think of.
>
Duh.
> >Run a calculation to figure out the energy required to get any amount of
> >mass going in a 'retrograde' orbit. You'd pay for a couple of Space Lasers
> >just getting a bucket of bolts heading in that direction.
>
> OK, now you're just being silly.
>
Do a little thinking about why something like the ISS is in the orbit (inclination, direction) that it is in. Ever seen ANY space mission orbiting east to west?
Go beyond the trivial...
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