Re:Scientists stunned by ‘city-killer’ asteroid that just mi...
by Someone on Saturday July 27, 2019 @01:01AM
(#20540468)
”We can't even accurately predict where deorbiting satellites will end up...”
I think that’s because they are so small. The impact of earth’s atmosphere on a 100m solid rock will be negligible in comparison.
Their speed perpendicular to earth also is very low, meaning they spend more time in the athmosphere. I guess they may even bounce of it a couple of times. If so, computing impact location requires calculating how many times a skipping stone will skip.
(But no, I don’t think we have the technology to make this an effective weapon. I would go for that rail gun on the moon instead. Still not quite within reach, but it would be a lot easier to get targeting accuracy)
I think that’s because they are so small. The impact of earth’s atmosphere on a 100m solid rock will be negligible in comparison.
Their speed perpendicular to earth also is very low, meaning they spend more time in the athmosphere. I guess they may even bounce of it a couple of times. If so, computing impact location requires calculating how many times a skipping stone will skip.
(But no, I don’t think we have the technology to make this an effective weapon. I would go for that rail gun on the moon instead. Still not quite within reach, but it would be a lot easier to get targeting accuracy)