Asymptotic behaviour of the total cross section of p-p scattering and the Akeno cosmic ray data

I present a new determination of the total cross section for proton-proton collisions from the recent Akeno results on absorption of the cosmic ray protons in the p-Air collisions. Extrapolation to the SSC energy suggests $\sigma_{tot}(p-p) \approx (160-170) mb$. I also comment on a possible sensitivity of the p-Air cross section determinations to assumptions on the inelasticity of nuclear collisions at high energy.