Satellites Collide

[Insomniac]

I can't find a story online, but I'm being told that a US Iridium satellite and Russian Cosmos satellite collided over the south pole yesterday. They've both been destroyed.

I wonder why no one predicted the collision?

[dando]

I can't find a story online, but I'm being told that a US Iridium satellite and Russian Cosmos satellite collided over the south pole yesterday. They've both been destroyed.

I wonder why no one predicted the collision?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/11/tech/main4792976.shtml

-Kevin

[Insomniac]

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/11/tech/main4792976.shtml

-Kevin

Heh, that's what I get for reading the forum and then posting the news. :)

[Andrew Longman]

This really isn't supposed to happen. Debris and vehicles are very closely tracked... or it is supposed to be.

I'd guess someone is in big trouble and/or this is now likely to happen again and more often

[Sean Malone]

This really isn't supposed to happen. Debris and vehicles are very closely tracked... or it is supposed to be.

I'd guess someone is in big trouble and/or this is now likely to happen again and more often

I remember reading years and years ago how orbiting debris was going to be a huge issue in the near future. I'm surprised its taken this long for something to happen. now with 3rd world countries throwing trash cans up there it's just going to get worse.

[Elmo T]

We like keeping an eye out for passing satellites. I have several sites that track the passes and they are always right on spot and on time. Not sure how they could have gotten this wrong. :saywhat:

Perhaps there is more to this story. :\

[RusH]

Meh...one less Iridium flare...who`s going to notice? :gomer:

[Andrew Longman]

We like keeping an eye out for passing satellites. I have several sites that track the passes and they are always right on spot and on time.


Same. I use this http://www.heavens-above.com/

I think I learned about it here

[Don Quixote]

Just wait until Iran starts lobbing satelites into orbit every couple of weeks.

[Elmo T]

Tracking:

http://spaceflight1.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/SSapplications/Post/JavaSSOP/JavaSSOP.html

[redmist]

We like keeping an eye out for passing satellites. I have several sites that track the passes and they are always right on spot and on time. Not sure how they could have gotten this wrong. :saywhat:

Perhaps there is more to this story. :\

aparently there was something amiss with the russian one, mentioned in a paragraph here.

http://news.aol.com/article/satellite-collision/339302

[Insomniac]

aparently there was something amiss with the russian one, mentioned in a paragraph here.

http://news.aol.com/article/satellite-collision/339302

That would explain why the Iridium satellite's orbit wasn't adjusted.

[coolhand]

This wont happen to US GOV sats.

The real criminals are the Chinese with their ASAT test that left a huge debris field. That is what happens when you conduct an ASAT test on a SAT that does not have a decaying orbit.

[dando]

Heads up, Texans!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/15/texas.sky.debris/index.html


Sonic booms and at least one fireball in the sky were reported in Texas on Sunday, less than a week after two satellites collided in space and a day after the Federal Aviation Administration asked U.S. pilots to watch for "falling space debris," authorities said.

-Kevin

[Methanolandbrats]

Pilots should "watch out" for falling space debris :rofl: I think the chunks are going a little too fast to dodge em:D

[Elmo T]

Hawaii is prepared -

Hazardous Awareness Plan for Space Vehicle Re-Entry Impact (http://www.scd.state.hi.us/documents/SatConPlanHazAwarenessPlan022008.pdf)

I have a DHS plan for something similar in the office.

[Gnam]

Another satellite failure: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=av6QSiI5BuOI&refer=us

space gremlins or ManBearPig? ;)

[Ankf00]

space gremlins or ManBearPig? ;)

zombies...

[Insomniac]

Another satellite failure: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=av6QSiI5BuOI&refer=us

space gremlins or ManBearPig? ;)

Technically, the satellite didn't fail. :D

[dando]

Almost a major collision:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/12/space.station.evacuation/index.html


Orbital debris was threatening to hit the station but passed by just before 1 p.m. EDT without causing damage, NASA said.

The debris was too close for the space station to move out of the way, so the station's 18 crew members were temporarily evacuated to a the station's Soyuz TMA-13 capsule, NASA said. From there, the crew could have undocked from the space station if the situation had become dangerous.


:eek:

-Kevin

[Wheel-Nut]

There's 18 crew members on the space station?! :eek:

[dando]

There's 18 crew members on the space station?! :eek:

No way. Another article mentions 3.


There are two Americans and one Russian aboard the space station.


http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D96SK9083&show_article=1

-Kevin

[Gnam]

Got deflector shield? :p

[SurfaceUnits]

OK, they can track a one inch piece of space debris but two satellites somehow aren't noticeable

The three astronauts took refuge for 11 minutes Thursday in a Russian escape capsule before returning inside. Officials were worried that the space station might get hit with a piece of space junk.

NASA says the debris was a small piece of an old spacecraft motor and it was passing within three miles of the station.

The piece measured less than an inch but tiny pieces of debris could cause a fatal loss of air pressure in the station. NASA says it isn't the first time they've sent the station crew into the capsule for safety.

There are two Americans and one Russian aboard the space station.

[cameraman]

OK, they can track a one inch piece of space debris but two satellites somehow aren't noticeable

They only have enough cpu power (read money) to track threats to orbiting manned missions & other US government property. Perhaps you would volunteer for a 50% increase in your income taxes to pay to predict the track of every single bit of crap orbiting the planet.:irked:

[SurfaceUnits]

They only have enough cpu power (read money) to track threats to orbiting manned missions & other US government property. Perhaps you would volunteer for a 50% increase in your income taxes to pay to predict the track of every single bit of crap orbiting the planet.:irked:

perhaps you aren't getting your money's worth on the taxes you are paying.

U.S. STRATCOM routinely tracks about 18,000 objects in space, including satellites and debris, that are 3.9 inches across or larger. Tracking priority and "conjunction analysis" - identifying which objects may pose a threat to manned spacecraft - is the first priority.


I guess those were 2.5 inch satellites that collided. :rolleyes:

[Gnam]

I guess those were 2.5 inch satellites that collided. :rolleyes:

Rounding error. :gomer:

[cameraman]

The satellites that collided were NOT subject to intensive "conjunction analysis" because it costs too much. The orbital tracks of manned missions get high resolution analysis of everything detectible. Things like Hubble and DoD gear also get high level analyses. Commercial satellites, not so much. It is a much lower level of ballpark measurements. The reason for the vastly reduced level is purely the extreme cost of that work.