RE: Debris Hits on Endeavour
Wayne T Hally (meteors@eclipse.net)
Mon, 21 Dec 1998 22:53:36 -0500
Good idea, but not too likely. Certainly not impossible. Considering the
odds of a hit from the Leonids (At 100 times the Geminids rate) was only
expected to damage 1 or 2 of all the satellites out there (In actuality, no
damage at all has been reported, but the highest rate was only comparable
to what the Geminids produce, not the hoped for storm.) The threat from the
Geminids should have been much less, despite the longer period of activity.
Additionally, the Geminids only approach the earth at half the Leonid's
speed, which means 1/4 the energy, right?. In defense of the Geminids
however, they are among the densest particles of all annual meteor showers,
more substantial than the smaller, lighter Leonid storm particles.
However, velocity is the most important determinator (sure, make up a word)
of damage. In any case, those particles are mighty far apart, and the
Shuttle is very small, ...lost in space.
Wayne
However, I fear we may be drifting a bit off topic here... :-)
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From: Daniel Deak[SMTP:dan.deak@sympatico.ca]
Sent: Monday, December 21, 1998 10:29 PM
To: SeeSat-L@blackadder.lmsal.com
Subject: Debris Hits on Endeavour
Hi all,
Endeavour was in orbit at the peak of the Geminids meteor shower.
Could explain some hits.
--
Daniel Deak
St-Bonaventure, Quebec <dan.deak@sympatico.ca>
45.9483?N, 72.6539?W, 58 m., UTC-5:00