Thread: Six ton satellite to hit planet earth today...somewhere :/

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/c...nclick_check=1

Keep your eyes towards the heavens today folks - seriously!

A six ton satellite is going to strike earth today, somewhere...

...but where? Not even they know. Place your bets now please!

Actually scrap that. Where do you want it to hit?

Either NatWest head offices or Houses of Parliament will do me nicely

North America has been ruled off the target list. What few fragments don't vaporize on reentry will probably land in water somewhere.

Too much is too much.
Junk is bad but junk in space is a crime.

Originally Posted by Nacian

junk in space is a crime.

I'll bet some martians have said that a time or two when observing our planet from their galaxy.

Originally Posted by Robinjazz

I'll bet some martians have said that a time or two when observing our planet from their galaxy.

If they did, this what they would see. Each white dot is a piece of space debris...
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...03_634x602.jpg

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

If they did, this what they would see. Each white dot is a piece of space debris...
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/...03_634x602.jpg

What are those dots?

What are those dots?

Satellites, debris, etc. You have to realize though that at scale most of those dots are less than 3 meters in diameter while the thick band of dots is 2.500.000 meters deep.

Still you don't want to meet one coming at you the other way. The kinetic energies involved are frightening. Even with the small odds of collision there's enough risk to keep orbit planners awake at night. Especially those managing human space flight.

Fortunately most of the objects fly orbits that go west to east as there's no point in giving up the velocity gained from earth's rotation at launch. Plus at any given altitude circular velocity is fixed, so the real risk of collision comes from two objects in oval orbits intersecting along their paths. Not impossible but the odds are very low.

But don't forget polar vs equatorial orbits...

Originally Posted by Robinjazz

I'll bet some martians have said that a time or two when observing our planet from their galaxy.

Robin, martians would be from Mars. Mars is not only in our galaxy (the Milky Way), but in our very own solar system.

I actually heard about this on the radio yesterday when I was on my way home from work. Apparently South Africa was definitely on the target list. We were told to watch the skies between 3:00am and 7:00am this morning. There was apparently a 3% chance of someone actually being hit by debris. Haha.

Just popped my head outside - all looks as it did before. No pieces of satellite laying in my garden.

I hope I get it. I want to stick it on ebay - collection only!

Apparently the debris has been falling in Canada. If Hawke comes online with a sore head you'll know why.

Originally Posted by Baron

Apparently the debris has been falling in Canada. If Hawke comes online with a sore head you'll know why.

Huh.... that's why there's a black, smouldering piece of metal cratered in my basement... and why my roof doesn't exist anymore... and maybe why there's a cauterized hole through my chest...