From: g_d_pusch_remove_underscores@xnet.com   
   Copy: msu1049321@aol.com   
      
   msu1049321@aol.com (MSu1049321) writes:   
      
   > Electrodynamic tether? Boing and Lockmart have been studying adding these   
   > to satellites to use as de-orbiting devices at the end of their useful   
   > life. A suitably long tether can not only lower Hubble's orbit, but   
   > generate power for an ion engine to slowly evolve a new orbital plane   
   > over time, then maintain it until serviceing is possible.   
      
   Electrodynamic tethers do not generate energy "for free" --- they simply   
   convert the kinetic energy of the orbiting object into electrical energy.   
   Plane changes are =VERY= expensive in terms of delta-vee. Powering an ion   
   drive with an electrodynamic tether simply causes the Hubble to auger in   
   even faster, without enough time to make a significant plane change.   
      
      
   -- Gordon D. Pusch   
      
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