Truth is even stranger than ’ Brewster Rockit’. The Galaxy 15 communication satellite which slipped its moorings in April, may jeopardize the ‘Lost’ series finale
http://news.discovery.com/space/wake-up-call-zombiesat-could-interrupt-lost-season-finale.html
“Truth is even stranger than ’ Brewster Rockit’. The Galaxy 15 communication satellite which slipped its moorings in April, may jeopardize the ‘Lost’ series finale”
pbarnrob, the orbits of satelites deteriorate as time goes on, and get closer and closer to the earth. So, the problem would be giving it a boost up every once in a while, so the satelite doesn’t come raining down on our heads in a blaze of colorful glory…I actually saw one hit the atmosphere once. It was a beautiful display of blues and greens, heading silently towards the horizon. Cool as all get out!
jfmcenanly had it right, this week’s strips are based on the story about the Galaxy 15 satellite. However, by the time this series started running, apparently the satellite situation cleared itself up. Oh, well. The perils of having to work weeks in advance.
Tim Rickard - Creator, Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!
@pbarnrob
You’ve just described an orbital elevator, also known as a ‘Beanstalk’. Arthur C. Clarke featured one in his novel, “the Fountains of Paradise” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheFountainsof_Paradise
From what I just found on-line the Galaxy 15 satellite still can’t be controlled. It is not expected to hit another satellite but will pass by and the signals will interfere with the one it passes by for a few days. The problem apparently was caused by a solar flare which knocked out some of the electronics on board even though all the electronics are hardened.
@W6BXQ; that’s the hazard we face with any space assets when the Sun gets frisky. A good big flare and Coronal Mass Ejection, that finds it way to Earth, could not just disrupt satellites, but the power grid and much of our terrestrial electronics as well. Sort of a dress rehearsal for an EMP. 73!
@jfmcenanly; what I had in mind was a ring arrangement of cable, 2 x 36,000km x pi, with assigned slots for the satellites to clip onto, thus distributing the forces to keep everybody in alignment along the geosynchronous Clarke Orbit.
While there might be some decay, at that distance, atmospheric drag is quite small, and fuel needs are mostly for station-keeping, which could be shared around the merry-go-round. Arrive at the right spot, match velocity, and clamp on.
We then would have to have a ‘garbage-collection’ service, since nobody could dodge debris anymore without letting go.
The elevator is either a rotating ‘wheel’ with no rim and one pair of spokes, that touches down at the right spot to take on passengers and cargo (see Robert Forward), or a heckuva tall tower, that passes through the zero-G point and balances itself with the pull outward of the outer part. Still a good idea (and of course, we appreciate Sir Arthur, including his 1945 expression of the whole idea of commsats).
The material strength is getting pretty close to enough to do it, too! Kim Stanley Robinson used such a structure in his Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars epic trilogy, with homage to Clarke.
margueritem almost 14 years ago
Times a wastin’!!!
luezer almost 14 years ago
Wait-this could be a good thing.
rayannina almost 14 years ago
Not for Brewster – his life isn’t the same if he misses “The Real Housewives of the Asteroid Belt.”
Pacejv almost 14 years ago
Depends….Uh, does it knock-out FOX?
jmcenanly almost 14 years ago
Truth is even stranger than ’ Brewster Rockit’. The Galaxy 15 communication satellite which slipped its moorings in April, may jeopardize the ‘Lost’ series finale http://news.discovery.com/space/wake-up-call-zombiesat-could-interrupt-lost-season-finale.html
zero almost 14 years ago
@jfmcenanly - any chance Galaxy 15 can do that retroactively?
pbarnrob almost 14 years ago
When are we going to send out the 226,000 km of cable, to clip the satellites onto so they stay in their slots?
It shouldn’t need to be very strong string, just a nudge occasionally.
Fuel would then be saved for that end-of-life thrust out into the Big Dark, someday.
lewisbower almost 14 years ago
Let the scientists at BP handle it.
Dkram almost 14 years ago
jfmcenanly said, about 3 hours ago
“Truth is even stranger than ’ Brewster Rockit’. The Galaxy 15 communication satellite which slipped its moorings in April, may jeopardize the ‘Lost’ series finale”
Saw it. I’m still Lost.
\\//_
alan.gurka almost 14 years ago
Obviously not PBS satellites, judging from Brewster’s reaction.
Varnes almost 14 years ago
pbarnrob, the orbits of satelites deteriorate as time goes on, and get closer and closer to the earth. So, the problem would be giving it a boost up every once in a while, so the satelite doesn’t come raining down on our heads in a blaze of colorful glory…I actually saw one hit the atmosphere once. It was a beautiful display of blues and greens, heading silently towards the horizon. Cool as all get out!
dr.mel Premium Member almost 14 years ago
jfmcenanly had it right, this week’s strips are based on the story about the Galaxy 15 satellite. However, by the time this series started running, apparently the satellite situation cleared itself up. Oh, well. The perils of having to work weeks in advance. Tim Rickard - Creator, Brewster Rockit: Space Guy!
cyphercube almost 14 years ago
Anyone who says truth is stranger than fiction can’t tell the difference*
*rational man, on the rational man show, youtube.
Trebor39 almost 14 years ago
Does this matter anymore now that “Lost” is over?
Ray_C almost 14 years ago
Tim, I’m sure it will be hilarious as usual. Doesn’t have to be topical to be funny. Remember the donut people!!
PierrePoirier almost 14 years ago
AAAAAAA the last episode of “Lost” hasn’t aired yet….I’ll miss it !
Sherlock Watson almost 14 years ago
Brewster Rockit has faced monsters and disasters of every kind, but now he faces the greatest terror of all: the imminent loss of Cartoon Network.
LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN!
starguy almost 14 years ago
Why not have Barry send in a whole bunch of gummint lawyers to “investigate” the off-course satellite.
jmcenanly almost 14 years ago
@pbarnrob You’ve just described an orbital elevator, also known as a ‘Beanstalk’. Arthur C. Clarke featured one in his novel, “the Fountains of Paradise” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TheFountainsof_Paradise
W6BXQ, John almost 14 years ago
From what I just found on-line the Galaxy 15 satellite still can’t be controlled. It is not expected to hit another satellite but will pass by and the signals will interfere with the one it passes by for a few days. The problem apparently was caused by a solar flare which knocked out some of the electronics on board even though all the electronics are hardened.
pbarnrob almost 14 years ago
@W6BXQ; that’s the hazard we face with any space assets when the Sun gets frisky. A good big flare and Coronal Mass Ejection, that finds it way to Earth, could not just disrupt satellites, but the power grid and much of our terrestrial electronics as well. Sort of a dress rehearsal for an EMP. 73!
@jfmcenanly; what I had in mind was a ring arrangement of cable, 2 x 36,000km x pi, with assigned slots for the satellites to clip onto, thus distributing the forces to keep everybody in alignment along the geosynchronous Clarke Orbit.
While there might be some decay, at that distance, atmospheric drag is quite small, and fuel needs are mostly for station-keeping, which could be shared around the merry-go-round. Arrive at the right spot, match velocity, and clamp on.
We then would have to have a ‘garbage-collection’ service, since nobody could dodge debris anymore without letting go.
The elevator is either a rotating ‘wheel’ with no rim and one pair of spokes, that touches down at the right spot to take on passengers and cargo (see Robert Forward), or a heckuva tall tower, that passes through the zero-G point and balances itself with the pull outward of the outer part. Still a good idea (and of course, we appreciate Sir Arthur, including his 1945 expression of the whole idea of commsats).
The material strength is getting pretty close to enough to do it, too! Kim Stanley Robinson used such a structure in his Red Mars, Green Mars, Blue Mars epic trilogy, with homage to Clarke.
mistercatworks about 1 year ago
Sports channels!