183_projects:problem12_spring2022 [Projects & Practices in Physics]

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--- 183_projects:problem12_spring2022 [2022/04/05 13:12] – pwirving
+++ 183_projects:problem12_spring2022 [2022/04/07 14:23] (current) – pwirving
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 https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/paul.w.irving/folder/Public/program/SpaceStationCollision
+====== Project 11: Saving a probe Part B ======
+{{ 183_projects:hal_asteroid.png }}
+You are still trying to recover HAL. HAL, if you remember, was a part of the satellite ( $m_{\rm t}=4500\,{\rm kg}$ ) that the Carver Media Group Network (CMGN) launched. The satellite (and HAL) was designed to communicate with Earth out to a distance of 3.8 million kilometers. As part of the electronics HAL contains a green and a red light-emitting diode (LED) mounted on the outer surface of the satellite. One of the probes ( $m_{\rm p}=400\,{\rm kg}$ ) remains attached to a single, very stiff spring ( $k_{\rm p}=5.3\times10^{9}{\rm N/m}$ ) that can be compressed remotely and then released to fire off the probe. You have hacked into this remote firing mechanism.
+Unfortunately, a transcription error was made by Mr. Stamper, Carver's chief "engineer" when the satellite was initially launched. As a result, the satellite escaped Earth's gravity and is currently traveling in a straight line away from the Earth at a distance of 1.9 million kilometers. Its speed is nearly constant at  $340\,{\rm m/s}$ . The gyroscope system that keeps the orientation of the satellite constant is still working.  However, an asteroid ( $m_{\rm a}=9300\,{\rm kg}$ ) traveling at a speed of  $950\,{\rm m/s}$  is on a direct collision course (in line with the Earth and HAL) and the collision is imminent. The asteroid is presently 500 kilometers from the satellite.
+Your team can recapture the satellite if it can be returned to Earth. You should design a way to return the satellite to Earth. You will also need to ensure the asteroid will not collide with the satellite - damaging the probe is ok. Your team also needs to determine the minimum amount of time until the possible collision to determine if a communication from Earth can be completed in time.