Today at work I supported the reboost of the ISS. Essentially we changed the Station's altitude to support the upcoming Shuttle mission. Well, during the reboost, which lasted about 23 minutes, the crew entertained us with a neat demonstration of the effects of a reboost on the inhabitants of the ISS. Mike LA took out a baseball. Not just any baseball, but an autographed official baseball of the 1984 World Series. LA took out the baseball to show the effects of the reboost. He held out the baseball and then released it (he imparted no forces on it). And within seconds, you could see the baseball accelerating away from the camera. There were about 400 micro-Gs of force acting on the ball and all occupants of the ISS. But this was enough force to accelerate the ball. Toward the end of the reboost, Mike LA, released the ball towards the camera with a small force. After a few minutes the ball came to a stop and then accelerated in the other direction...showing that the reboost was still in progress.
After the reboost was complete, which was unbeknownst to the crew, Mike LA again released the baseball in front of the camera. This time the ball remained where he placed it. Obviously the reboost was over...and to confirm it, Mike LA called down, "Is the reboost over?"
Now, you can get the same effect in an automobile here on earth. Place a baseball on the armrest and then mash on the accelerator...the ball is going to accelerate off of the armrest...not terribly exciting...
...Some things are just much cooler in space!
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2 comments:
This reboost burn was made possible by TOPO and the number 16. Special thanks to Russian Ballistic s, without your prop this Burn would have been a dud.
sweet, I'd love to get that video footage. fun to show non-space folks
-R
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