-=> On 12-25-97  03:15, Tom Goodman did testify and affirm <=-
-=> to Roy J. Tellason concerning Re: Armed And Dangerous <=-
 RT> Aw,  c'mon,  don't keep us in suspense!  How fast would you
 RT> have to spin that sucker?     :-)
 TG> Actually, I don't know.  The use of the sling and the power
 TG> of the sling was demonstrated with the result of
 TG> penetrating the forehead of a thick-skulled Philistine. 
 TG> The power is generated by the length of the rawhide cords,
 TG> weight of the projectile, cup of the pocket, the gentle
 TG> swing at the start, the acceleration of the projectile up
 TG> in front, diagonally across the chest and the instant
 TG> accelerative snap just prior to loosing the free cord. NASA
 TG> will be using this same principle for the Capizzi (?)
 TG> spacecraft when it orbits Jupiter(?) a couple of times
 TG> snaps orbit and then "sling-shots" around the earth. 
Actually, that's not completely true. Your description of
sling technique includes both launch/acceleration and
aiming. NASA's only concern during the slingshot maneuver
is the additional gravitational deflection and
acceleration. Initial launch is handled by rocket. 
 TG> Having used a real sling shot, this maneuver of
 TG> "sling-shotting" 73 pounds of plutonium around the earth to
 TG> gain galaxial escape velocity and multiplying speed somehow
 TG> leaves me very doubtful. 
Firstly, they're aiming for solar escape velocity, not
"galaxial". Secondly, it is my understanding that the
plutonium is vitrified and has been crash-proofed to
maximum possible extent. 
 TG> The sling shot is hard enough to control. 
The "slingshot" maneuver is a tenuous analogy at best and
refers simply to the "elasticity" of the gravitational
tether.
 TG> I wonder if their technology is so fool proof that they can
 TG> accomplish this with no previous experience or really
 TG> practical data. 
Factually incorrect. The "slingshot" maneuver is an old,
established technique which antedates the Apollo program.
Insertion into lunar orbit and re-insertion into Earth
orbit both involve an element of sling-shotting.
 TG> Especially since the earth wobbles instead of spinning. 
Irrelevant in the time frame used for orbital insertion.
 TG> (Now hows that for a segue from the sling-shot to a chance
 TG> to crab about think-tankers presuming to be accurate with
 TG> something they've never done right yet?)
Not good. There have been at least 17 such launches of
plutonium-powered orbital craf and most such have used the
slingshot maneuver on various solar bodies.
... What are the FACTS and to how many decimal places?
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