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Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:53 pm
by ralfvandebergh
Hi all,
I want to share this extraordinary observation regarding orbital mechanics.
http://vimeo.com/36473462
Best regards,
Ralf Vandebergh
Astrophotographer
http://ralfvandebergh.startje.be/vieuw.php?qid=328303
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:08 am
by Chris Peterson
While the video is interesting, I'm skeptical of the interpretation. A 10m long, 9000kg rocket body rotating radially about a center of gravity 2m from one end (about right given the mass of the motor) at 3 r/s, results in a tensile force that is close to, or exceeding, the material strength of the structure.
With so few frames, it is hard to deconstruct what is probably tumbling on two axes. What is needed is a light curve collected at a high rate, for at least 10 or 15 seconds.
Nothing strikes me as unusual or complex about the orbital dynamics, however.
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:02 pm
by ralfvandebergh
I should have mentioned before: I saw the object visually while tracking and i saw it flashing at a very high rate, so I'm very convinced about the interpretation.
Ralf
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:08 pm
by Chris Peterson
ralfvandebergh wrote:I should have mentioned before: I saw the object visually while tracking and i saw it flashing at an very high rate, so I'm very convinced about the interpretation.
I wasn't suggesting that there wasn't a ~0.3 second periodicity, only the interpretation that this necessarily means the rocket body is tumbling end over end. The reason for collecting a longer light curve is that it makes it possible to deconstruct the actual tumbling behavior.
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:10 pm
by ralfvandebergh
Ok understood,
Ralf
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:31 pm
by ralfvandebergh
Here is an improved version of the video:
http://vimeo.com/37855475
Ralf Vandebergh
10 meter long Rocket tumbles around in 0.3 second
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:42 pm
by ralfvandebergh
Apologies for this new topic which is actually a reworked version of the earlier topic ''amazing observation of space debris''. I have deleted the early version but couldn't edit it with the new link anymore.
This is the new link:
http://vimeo.com/37855475
Thanks for your interest!
Ralf Vandebergh
http://ralfvandebergh.startje.be/vieuw.php?qid=328303
Re: Amazing observation of space debris
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 8:51 pm
by owlice
I've merged the two topics.