2006-10-10 04:32:14 · 7 answers · asked by jammy.greeny@talk21.com 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
rex_rrrac said about hitting a ball when space walking. I have read on wiki that they are planning to hit a golf ball in the next shuttle launch. They had planned it in the last shuttle launch but is was postponed.
2006-10-10 04:45:59 · update #1
about hitting a golf ball into space in the next shuttle launch:
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=1093
2006-10-10 04:56:19 · update #2
Only if you have good aim!
2006-10-10 04:33:59 · answer #1 · answered by Coo coo achoo 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I understand your question correctly, if an astronaut in orbit were to throw something, could they possibly hit a communications satellite.
The answer is no. The reason is altitude. The astronauts float around 150 to 200 miles high at a speed of 17,500 mph. The geosyncronous satellites (GPS, communication) are at MUCH higher altitudes. So a person throwing a ball would have no chance of hitting them because the Earth's gravity is going to curve that ball and prevent it from getting that high.
However, firing it from a gun designed to launch the ball at the right speed might have a chance, but the timing would have to be within milliseconds in order to try and target one.
Great question.
2006-10-10 13:16:32 · answer #2 · answered by Doob_age 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you were an astronaut in orbit in outer space, went for a space walk and threw a ball, the chances of hitting anything are in the order of 1 million times less than getting hit by lightning on earth.
2006-10-10 11:42:51 · answer #3 · answered by rex_rrracefab 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to do that you have to throw it so hard that it goes into the atmosphere where there's no air resistance. Inside the atmosphere there is air resistance and your ball will slowly loose it's "horizontal" velocity, thus eventually hitting the ground. In space, you could actually hit a communications satellite, but even though there are a bunch of them out there, it is still relatively just a few, compared to the area available.
2006-10-10 11:38:57 · answer #4 · answered by Hesse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Nope. If the ball was in geosynchronous orbit it would be going in the same direction and at the same speed as the satellites. It would not hit them.
2006-10-10 13:33:42 · answer #5 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Geosynchronous orbit doesn't have anything to do with it. You can hit anything with anything if you throw good enough and there's nothing in the way.
2006-10-10 12:37:19 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not, but you could pitch for the Yankees
2006-10-10 11:34:07 · answer #7 · answered by Skuya!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋