@gStar: well, there are several types of telescopes. the aforementioned "space" telescope, the "terrestrial apartment across the way with the blonde that doesn't close her curtains watching" telescope and the list goes on from there.
The Hubble is a fake! Look at that picture, there are no stars in the background. It's all just a lie made up by NASA so it'll look like we're ahead of the Russians!
That's the problem with where I live in Seattle. Too many tree! The space station rarely gets high enough for me to see it without driving to some remote, tree free site. But man! I'd love to see that thing through a telescope. I used to watch the smaller ones with my dad and his hyper-expensive auto tracking telescope with multi hundred dollar light pollution filters.
(It was one of the few times I was glad he wasted our money).
the beginning of the end? I can picture a chain reaction where by the end of this yr, we'll be without internet, gps and any form of satellite communication. Couple that with a violent sunspot cycle and you can just picture the new Flint-stone Age...
@Vincent C: This is definitely the beginning of the end. In fact the end is a dead certainty. The Chinese killed a satellite in an asat test a few months ago, and this one will only add to the mess. Sooner or later these fragments will impact another satellite, increasing the chance of a new collision exponentially.
I am not sure about the time line, but it is inevitable that in time the Earth will be surrounded by a cloud of debris, trapping us on the planet for thousands of years.
Now can someone answer me this: If they are whizzing around at 17.5k MPH, and hit the Hubble traveling towards it at 5k, does that equal an impact of 22.5k? Is it more important how fast the debris is moving, or how fast Hubble is moving relative to it?
If their both traveling in the same direction and hubbles traveling at 5000 MPH and the fragments are traveling at 17.5k when they hit they'll colide with a force of 12500 MPH. Considering bullets travel about a tenth that speed if they hit no matter how the hubbles screwed.
@RyaninCalgary: did you mean 22500? i'm assuming you did.
Also it depends if it's a dead on collision (highly unlikely). In all probability only some of the vector is going to be applied to change in momentum (impulse), so the "brick wall equivalent" might actually end up being 12500 (depending on lots of variables). Hitting a brick wall at 12,500 still wouldn't be fun.
It's a real shame that all it takes to make space missions dangerous for everyone are pieces of debris. What if a country such as North Korea decides to launch 5000 pieces of debris into space? That would significantly increase the danger for existing communications satellites. It would be a real mess if satellites started getting damaged especially internet, TV, and other such satellites.
@Adnan Khan: @Adnan Khan: They would also likely impact their OWN satellites. Scorched Earth is not a likely scenario for space for any country/people, unless those Amish finally perfect their boosters during Rumspringa.
We need some Vogons to come out to this part of the galaxy and bring one of their giant space vacuum cleaners. On second thought, they might decide a hyperspace bypass would fit rather well where Earth is. Yeah. Don't call them.
@Paint Swatch: If I can get this damn infinite improbability drive to work, I could go find some other aliens who are willing to help.. but I keep turning into a ball of twine..
05/08/09
05/08/09
05/08/09
hmmm, something just doesn't seem right here
05/08/09
05/08/09
04/24/09
04/24/09
04/24/09
04/24/09
I apologize for not knowing how to embed.
04/24/09
04/24/09
04/24/09
//on topic: The Hubble is 6 months older than I am! weird...
04/24/09
04/24/09
JK, love you Hubble. Happy B-Day.
04/24/09
04/24/09
04/24/09
03/21/09
(It was one of the few times I was glad he wasted our money).
03/21/09
03/21/09
03/21/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
I am not sure about the time line, but it is inevitable that in time the Earth will be surrounded by a cloud of debris, trapping us on the planet for thousands of years.
There is NO program to clean up this mess.
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
If their both traveling in the same direction and hubbles traveling at 5000 MPH and the fragments are traveling at 17.5k when they hit they'll colide with a force of 12500 MPH. Considering bullets travel about a tenth that speed if they hit no matter how the hubbles screwed.
02/18/09
Also it depends if it's a dead on collision (highly unlikely). In all probability only some of the vector is going to be applied to change in momentum (impulse), so the "brick wall equivalent" might actually end up being 12500 (depending on lots of variables). Hitting a brick wall at 12,500 still wouldn't be fun.
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
02/18/09
(This is like the 3rd or 4th Hitchhiker related comment I've had today...what the hell?)
As for the Hubble: sad times; it has earned a better death then by satellite debris.
02/18/09