Space Junk

--- In spacesettlers@yahoogroups.com, "Combs, Mike" wrote:
>
> From: the_gunfighter_45acp
>
> > I haven't read
> > this Mike Combs story as of yet but suppose I should since everyone
> > seems to keep referring to it...
>
> I might should interject at this point to comment that my story was
> simply a straightforward science fiction action-adventure story, albeit
> with as realistic science and technology as I could muster. The problem
> had to be overcome to save lives and the space-faring future. Although
> the backdrop is a profit-oriented space enterprise, there was no thought
> to how a cluttered orbit could be cleared up cost-effectively or even
> profitably. (Which I think is your orientation.)
>
> I would agree that orbital rendezvous with and collection of debris
> would probably only be practical for the very largest varieties of space
> debris. We might do it for entire spent rocket stages, but not, I would
> guess, for anything much smaller than that.
>
> I think the idea of laser ablation at the apogee of a debris particle's
> orbit has merit. An important point is that such a system would only
> have to lower the perigee down into the uppermost ranges of the
> atmosphere. It might take one more orbit, or a hundred, but that piece
> would be out of the running, and you could turn your attentions to the
> next piece.
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike Combs
> http://members.aol.com/howiecombs/shortstories.htm
>

Ah the man himself.... The reason I put the disclaimer in my last
post.. I didnt want anyone thinking I was speaking towards you..
Now on the other hand if its just the big stuff you looking to take
down than I concede the point just about any ground base system will
be far more cost effective over a launched spacecraft venture.. But I
was looking to take out the small stuff with some of the bigger
stuff... i.e. things like the paint chip that cracked a shuttle window
few years back... I chose the Dragnet idea do to the fact when one
fishes with a dragnet the dont try to track one little fish and chase
it down... they find schools of them ... Thought being, you track a
mass of space junk from the size of basket balls to paint chips and
dragnet that orbital track... Now Im not saying my idea is the best in
fact I was kinda counting on it being plucked apart...
Given for the dragnet idea to really be of any use it probably have to
be a mile wide by half a mile tall at the very least....
Anyhow thanks for your input and I do look forward to reading your
story .. I love a good space action adventure...