🚀 go-pugleaf

mperlman@nyx.cs.du.edu (Marshal "Airborne" Perlman) writes:
>I am not a big physics fan, so maybe one of you can answer this in
>plain english for us non-NASA [as of now, =8)] people.
>
>In microgravity, the weight of 'stuff' is less (quite less). And more then 
>once I've seen astronauts handle objects of much mass (and if on earth, 
>much weight) like they were feathers. OK, fine I understand that. BUT
>what allows the shuttle to not be effected by this? For example. If
>astronaut bob was standing in the shuttle, and grabbed a big-ol satellite,
>he reaches out and grabs it... ok? But what doesn't stop astronaut bob from
>accidently grabbing the shuttle or something? and turning it end over end?
>
>I am sure there is some simple answer to this, but I cannot think of it
>now. 

Consider that the mass of the object remains constant. And that any
momentum (linear or angular) is a mass-velocity product. Your ability to
move an object is going to be a function of this relationship. This is why
the sattelite rescue last year involved VERY slow movement of the object
once it was captured. The orbiter has substantial mass, and the bottom
line is that any attempt by an astronaut to "shove" the orbiter will
simply result in the astronaut moving. The same thing holds true on earth.
Stand up and press down with your feet real hard. Have you moved the earth
in orbit? No. You moved yourself up in the air. Lack of gravity doesn't
really change the way it all works.
-- 
 
                tom coradeschi    <+>    tcora@pica.army.mil
                            Loud Pipes Suck