RE: ISS-Shuttle Tail

From: Virgil (VFenn1@excite.com)
Date: Tue Oct 17 2000 - 11:30:32 PDT

  • Next message: Leo Barhorst: "Obs 13, 14, 17 Oct + ISS/STS92"

    On Tue, 17 Oct 2000 10:04:07 -0700, Matson, Robert wrote:
    
    <quote>
    It *was* leading the complex.  High drag on the water (which 
    quickly becomes ice) causes it do drop into a lower orbit 
    which in turn causes it to race ahead of the shuttle.  The 
    lower the drop in altitude, the greater the velocity of the 
    ice crystals -- this is what leads to the "C" shape. 
    </quote>
    
    Hmmm. It seems to me that there isn't enough atmosphere at that altitude to
    provide THAT much drag. Since the water appears to get quite a distance away
    from the shuttle rather quickly, I figured that the water was squirted out
    with significant velocity and intentionally directed down. I also assumed
    that the water is sprayed in such a way as to minimize the droplet size and
    disperse the cloud quickly. 
    
    Too many assumptions! The water dump is sure a dramatic demonstration of how
    counter-intuitive orbital mechanics can be. I wish NASA would schedule them
    for maximum visibility. 
    
    ..Virgil..->VFenn1@excite.com
    website www.virgilfenn.com
    39.0731N 108.6119W 1417m
    
    
    
    
    
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