Satellite Debris Begins to Reenter Earth's Atmosphere

"The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"

*cover story*

Thanks OP

"As of March 7th, there were 355 catalogued fragments of Cosmos 2251 and 159 fragments of Iridium 33," says Daniel Deak who prepared the orbit-map for readers of spaceweather.com. "The Cosmos fragments are not only more numerous, but also more widely scattered, ranging in altitude from 198 km to 1689 km. For comparison, Iridium fragments are confined to altitudes between 582 km and 1262 km."

The extra scatter of Cosmos debris is not fully understood. Impact geometry could explain the spread, but no one knows exactly how the two complex vehicles struck one another. A factor of possible importance: Cosmos 2251 was internally pressurized. Once ruptured, it may have blown itself apart.

The International Space Station is in no immediate peril. "NASA has recognized from the first day [of the collision] that the risks to both ISS and STS-119 have increased," says Nick Johnson, Chief Scientist for Orbital Debris at the Johnson Space Center. "However, those increases have been relatively minor in comparison to the background environment."

probably. this has to do with the sonic booms or whatever they are, people have been hearing past few days. lo lo. it's about to get way wild i think.

I have a feeling people will be seeing some interesting things in the sky.

thx

Want cave!

Take Cover! Asteroid Alert!

Is it wise to launch the space shuttle???

Explains the sonic booms on the other thread

Would satellite debris cause sonic booms?? Interesting...

No shit...while there may be some debris comin from the collision, we have read and seen video from around the globe of flaming chunks flyin across the sky and the (AHEM) wood chipper parts actually hitting earth. They don't want to tell us that we've swung through a fucking space dust cloud. Even Lemon Pledge won't save us now.

Very interesting!!!

I thought they said before that it wouldn't enter the earth's atmosphere???

Wonder if we'll see some more fireballs and whatnot....

Is it round two of the galactic war!?

Why would they not? Do you know how fast they are going up there?

Let's switch from FINANCIAL DOOM, since DOW SOARING... to SPACE DOOM!

PIN!? PIN!?

Forgive my ignorance.

wow..you people get excited way to easily...

this shit will be nothing..btw we're hit by tons and tons of space debris on a daily basis, so chilllllll

ANTI-SLAMMITE!!!

Mystery Booms in California & NY

Thread: Mystery Booms California & NY



Kessler Syndrome

Thread: REAL DOOM = Kessler Syndrome




" The Kessler Syndrome is a scenario, proposed by NASA consultant Donald J. Kessler, in which the volume of space debris in Low Earth orbit is so high that objects in orbit are frequently struck by debris, creating even more debris and a greater risk of further impacts. The implication of this scenario is that the escalating amount of debris in orbit could eventually render space exploration, and even the use of satellites, unfeasible for many generations. "


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" The Kessler Syndrome is especially insidious because of the "domino effect" and "feedback runaway". Any impact between two objects of sizable mass spalls off shrapnel debris from the force of collision. Each piece of shrapnel now has the potential to cause further damage, creating even more space debris. With a large enough collision (such as one between a space station and a defunct satellite), the amount of cascading debris could be enough to render Low Earth Orbit essentially impassable. "





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especially debris measured in centimeters.

Linky or Stinky?

I wonder what parts of Earth will they be visible?