James Oberg wrote:



George, here's the secret advantage: any stuff coming off the Orbiter all
tends to 'cluster' ahead of and below it, as differential drag drops it
into lower faster orbits. Then you look for it, once a rev, at sunset,
against the dark Earth background. MCC runs the camera, the crew isn't
even involved. Meantime, random axis views also scan -- but don't provide
100% -- the space within 100 meters or so of the Orbiter. And regarding +Z
(out-the-belly views), the ET sep camera, in the belly, is being rewired
to allow imagery to reach the crew cabin.


That's a great idea, why do it once an orbit. Just have it looking
continuously, with a computer pointing out all the interesting things that
are flying formation below and in front of the orbiter.

Have two scanning cammeras, the other looking back and above the orbiter,
looking for things that have less drag than the Orbiter.

If they can identify the debris quickly enough, they could even rendezvous
with it to have a look or get whatever it is back.

Wouldn't it be better to have the computer doing the scanning onboard the
orbiter, and only use bandwidth to send the interesting images down to the
MCC.

Craig Fink