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Debris in orbit has a finite limit until we're then trapped on this planet. Micrometeroids and space trash will katamari until we then have to start thinking ab
by odomojuli 6y ago
Debris in orbit has a finite limit until we're then trapped on this planet. Micrometeroids and space trash will katamari until we then have to start thinking about blowing significant parts of our geocentric orbit. Warfare in space is a negative-sum game for every player.
- barkingcat 6y agothis is how we'll not get to mars. I envision a future where nation-states governed by strong-dictators shoot down each other's mars attempts while also denying climate change exists.
- anon73044 6y agoSounds like something Jerry Pournelle and Larry Niven would write, maybe with some Peter F. Hamilton thrown in for good measure.
- dredmorbius 6y agoWhat is katamari in this sense?
- odomojuli 6y agoKatamari is a Japanese term used for "clump" or "clod". It is basically what dung beetles do. They roll things up until they're bigger. The bigger the ball, the faster it grows from size. Like making a snowman. I'm referring to this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEAP-4iUirY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEAP-4iUirY To answer your question, in this sense: I mean to say that the more space debris there is hurtling through our orbit capturing other space debris, the more likely we are to end up with micrometeroids building up mass, momentum and velocity until we just end up with an extremely hostile environment for our satellites and vehicles.
- dredmorbius 6y agoAh, thanks. I'd found a videogame ref, based on the same definition I now realise: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari There is an established term, Kessler syndrome, effectively a runaway debris cascade: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kessler_syndrome