Asymptotic behavior 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 the absorption of cosmic ray protons in p-air collisions. An extrapolation to SSC energies suggests σ_tot(p-p)~=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.