Re: Attaching conductive cable to orbital object

In article <hZudnSmFu6RR_WTeRVn-ug@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, rhnl
<rhnl@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:

A heavy, lengthy--say 20-30 km long--conductive cable attacjed to an Earth
orbiting object (the Shuttle), tests have shown a considerable electric
charge

Presumably you mean "current" or "voltage".

being generated as the cable speeds through Earth's electromagnetic
field, question is: Would the cable's mass and extension (length) decay or
other wise modify the object's orbit over time? (also consider an asteroid
or comet with a cable attached as a hypthetical scenario.)

The energy generated comes from the kinetic energy of the Shuttle, just
like a generator is powered by something moving. As such, it will
decrease the kinetic energy or the Shuttle will have to be accelerated
to compensate. Otherwise, you would have a perpetual-motion machine.

.

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