|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Dynamics of an Earth Ring
Before anybody gives me that look...this question is totally in the
context of a "what if" kind of hypothetical scenario. Suppose an asteroid somehow, through some super, far future engineering achievement has been captured into orbit around the Earth. Now suppose we want to carve it out by detonating a series of missiles that incrementally hollow their way into the body of such an asteroid. The material excavated out of the body would create a thin ring system around the Earth, as I try to illustrate he- http://uk.geocities.com/aa_spaceagen...arth-ring.html My main concern with such a project is one of SAFETY. I'd like to know what a *safe* perigee (minimum) altitude would be necessary to prevent orbital decay of ring material. I don't want any material from my hypothetical ring system coming down toward the Earth under any circumstances. Would the ring material be contained in a narrow plane of fixed orbital incline, or would it scatter over time? What about interactivity with particles trapped in the Van Allen radiation belts? Is there any learnings from the Voyager studies (and now Cassini studies) of Saturnian rings that could be used to predict the long term stability of such a *hypothetical* ring system around the Earth in the future? Abdul Ahad |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Space Calendar - August 27, 2004 | Ron | Misc | 14 | August 30th 04 11:09 PM |
Space Calendar - November 26, 2003 | Ron Baalke | History | 2 | November 28th 03 09:21 AM |
Space Calendar - August 28, 2003 | Ron Baalke | Misc | 0 | August 28th 03 05:32 PM |
Space Calendar - July 24, 2003 | Ron Baalke | Misc | 0 | July 24th 03 11:26 PM |