Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site hoxna.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!kek From: kek@hoxna.UUCP ( K. E. Kepple) Newsgroups: net.astro Subject: Space Debris Message-ID: <547@hoxna.UUCP> Date: Mon, 19-Aug-85 18:21:57 EDT Article-I.D.: hoxna.547 Posted: Mon Aug 19 18:21:57 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 24-Aug-85 14:09:30 EDT Organization: Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 19 Orbital Trash Speaking of junk in space, does anyone remember an experiment about 20 years ago in which a bunch (few hundred pounds, maybe) of tiny wires about the size of needles was launched? I think the purpose was to see if they could be used for communication (bouncing radio signals off of 'em). Well, in a short time, they became so dispersed that they not only were useless for the original experiment but also made the entire region of their orbit uninhabitable for satellites. I remember this episode causing a lot of debate about trashing up the satellite orbits. Somebody out there gotta remember what this was all about. Ken Kepple hoxna!kek datakit: ho/bedrock/fred!kek AT&T-Bell Labs - Holmdel NJ 07733 201-949-6525 Cornet 8-233-6525 ...!{hocda, ihnp4, floyd!vax135!ariel!houti!hogpc}!houxm!hoxna!kek