11-14-2012, 05:28 PM
freeradical wrote:
[quote=DRR]
[quote=gabester]
The graphics charting some of the debris as white dots around the earth really bring the message home. That junk field portrayed in WALL-E? We're well on our way to it already.
g=
That graphic charting the debris as white dots around the earth is horribly misleading. In that graphic, the dots are all the relative size of Rhode Island. There isn't one piece of space junk that's up there that's even a quarter of that size.
Yes, but if you run into even a tiny piece of junk at a high relative velocity, it will be like getting hit by an artillery shell.
Not doubting the seriousness of the problem, just pointing out the flaws in the graphic. It's more propaganda than it is useful. Invokes an emotional response rather than conveying any useful information.