In space are pebbles or small stones randomly floating around? Or do we know that beyond generally gravitating to other planets/stars/masses, its almost impossible to think of stray stones or rocks simply hanging out inbetween 2 indeterminate points/planets? When I hear about a "space sail" being used some day that can theoretically go faster and faster, I wonder if a random pebble/iron ore floating in space the size of a finger nail being impacted at hundreds or thousands of miles by the space sail at just the right spot could destroy the whole thing.
Responses (1)
Not necessarily "stone", but debris is a very real concern for any spacecraft design. As are radiation, solar flares, equipment malfunctions, mental deterioration due to isolation & confinement, vicissitudes. Any number of things could kill you out there.
https :// www . nasa . gov / mission_pages/station/news/orbital_debris.html
Besides, space is big but the birthday paradox still applies. Collisions happen all the time and some deep space remnants are going nowhere fast. Supernovae firing matter in every direction. Obviously, the magnitude of debris in orbit (eg kuiper belt) is vast in comparison, but in any huge intricate system no edge case is truly negligible.