From: Mike Lorrey (mlorrey@datamann.com)
Date: Sat Jul 21 2001 - 07:23:34 MDT
John Clark wrote:
>
> Trask, Robert E <TraskRE@corning.com> Wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> Kepler predicted the orbit of Mars and it took him years of calculation, Newton can
> predict anything and it's easy.
>
> >They are not static and have to be updated constantly because of
> >gravitational and high atmosphere influences.
>
> Are you trying to tell me with a straight face that there is no way to know
> where a satellite in a stable orbit will be in one hour's time?
Not enough to hit it with a bag of nuts without an active tracking and
maneuvering system installed that doesn't deploy the nuts until its
within a few miles of the target.
>
> >Ever seen ANY space mission orbiting east to west?
>
> No, because there was never any reason to do so and my bucket of bolts
> won't be going east to west either. If you're interested in protecting the USA
> from ICBM's the battleground will be near the north pole so your Laser battle
> stations had better be in polar orbit, going north to south or south to north,
> it doesn't matter. Whatever direction you decide I'll send my bolts in the
> opposite orbit.
>
You said it was orbiting opposite that of the SBLs, thus a retrograde
(east to west) orbit.
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