From: sylvia@not.at.this.address   
      
   Erik Max Francis wrote:   
   > Sylvia Else wrote:   
   >> Erik Max Francis wrote:   
   >>> Sylvia Else wrote:   
   >>>> So the reasonable assumption is that it's in an orbit that allows it   
   >>>> to be at 2000km at one point in time, and 800km at another.   
   >>>   
   >>> That would be my guess, too; it sounds asking what the speed of the   
   >>> satellite will be if it has a perigee of 800 km altitude and an   
   >>> apogee of 2000 km altitude.  It's a bit glib and not terribly clear,   
   >>> though.  I agree with the others that it's not a very useful   
   >>> question, especially for high school students.   
   >>   
   >> It couldn't have an apogee at 2000km, because it's going at the wrong   
   >> speed.   
   >   
   > That seems in direct contradiction to what you just said above   
   >   
   > It starts with an altitude of 2000 km, is hit by something, and ends up   
   > at 800 km altitude.  There's nothing about it ending up in a 800 km   
   > _circular_ orbit.   
   >   
      
   I haven't said it's hit by something. Indeed, if it is, then the   
   question is unanswerable.   
      
   My view is that it's in some orbit, being an orbit that rises above   
   2000km, and falls below 800km.   
      
   Sylvia.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)