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--- 183_projects:problem9_fall2021_b [2021/11/11 15:22] – pwirving
+++ 183_projects:problem9_fall2021_b [2021/11/11 16:10] – pwirving
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 https://www.glowscript.org/#/user/paul.w.irving/folder/Public/program/SpaceStationCollision
+====== Project 9C: Saving a probe ======
+{{ 183_projects:hal_asteroid.png }}
+You are 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.