http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/13/crikey-clarifier-when-satellites-collide/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:48:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/13/crikey-clarifier-when-satellites-collide/#comment-16816 Mark Duffett Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16816 Dead right, Wayne Robinson - except that heavier shielding won't make a whit of difference, in fact it would only make for greater kinetic energy and more debris (and much more expensive launches). You're entirely correct about the runaway cascade of collisions, though. See my comment at the very end of today's Crikey. Dead right, Wayne Robinson - except that heavier shielding won’t make a whit of difference, in fact it would only make for greater kinetic energy and more debris (and much more expensive launches). You’re entirely correct about the runaway cascade of collisions, though. See my comment at the very end of today’s Crikey.

]]> http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/13/crikey-clarifier-when-satellites-collide/#comment-16817 scot Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16817 Stratfor reports - or at least doesn't totally discount - that there is a possibility this is a test - or a demonstration - of a Soviet anti-satelllite capability. Stratfor reports - or at least doesn’t totally discount - that there is a possibility this is a test - or a demonstration - of a Soviet anti-satelllite capability.

]]> http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/13/crikey-clarifier-when-satellites-collide/#comment-16818 Wayne Robinson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-16818 The great danger with space debris in orbit is that it might theoretically cause a snowball event. The debris from one collision might collide with other satellites, causing more debris which collides with further satellites, which.... And eventually all the satellites in orbit might be destroyed. Possibly, new satellites could be built with heavier shielding, but that would add to the cost. The great danger with space debris in orbit is that it might theoretically cause a snowball event. The debris from one collision might collide with other satellites, causing more debris which collides with further satellites, which…. And eventually all the satellites in orbit might be destroyed. Possibly, new satellites could be built with heavier shielding, but that would add to the cost.

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