3 ms·
While I'm not advocating space trash, I'm having a hard time imaging a collision being even remotely possible given how tiny these things are and how massive sp
by joshfraser 9y ago
While I'm not advocating space trash, I'm having a hard time imaging a collision being even remotely possible given how tiny these things are and how massive space is.
- cmurf 9y agoThis is just a variation on big sky theory. Collision is unlikely, but not impossible. And if it happens, the cascading effect is a really disproportionate consequence. Also, you make a common mistake by emphasizing size while ignoring momentum. A quarter going 18000 mph hitting anything else in space is a problem, perhaps in particular the inability to predict the consequence when big sky theory doesn't come to the rescue.
- joshfraser 9y agoI understand that, but my point was the small size also decreases the odds of a collision happening in the first place.
- PeterisP 9y agoDoes it? If the orbits intersect, a large object is almost as likely to be hit by a flake of paint as a cubesat; and by a cubesat vs something twice as big. The difference is that a flake of paint will likely be just a dent, and a cubesat will destroy whatever it hits.