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Space Junk

By The Armorer on February 15, 2008 | | Comments (15)

DoD To Engage Decaying Satellite

An uncontrollable U.S. experimental satellite which was launched in December 2006 is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere between the end of February and early March. Because the satellite was never operational, analysis indicate that approximately 2,500 pounds (1134 kgs) of satellite mass will survive reentry, including 1,000 pounds (453 kgs) of propellant fuel (hydrazine), a hazardous material.

Although the chances of an impact in a populated area are small, the potential consequences would be of enough concern to consider mitigating actions. Therefore, the President has decided to take action to mitigate the risk to human lives by engaging the non-functioning satellite. Because our missile defense system is not designed to engage satellites, extraordinary measures have been taken to temporarily modify three sea-based tactical missiles and three ships to carry out the engagement.

Based on modeling and analysis, our officials have high confidence that the engagement will be successful. As for when this engagement will occur, we will determine the optimal time, location, and geometry for a successful engagement based on a number of factors. As the satellite's path continues to decay, there will be a window of opportunity between late February and early March to conduct this engagement. The decision to engage the satellite has to be made before a precise prediction of impact location is available.

Contact with hydrazine is hazardous. Direct contact with skin or eyes, ingestion or inhalations from hydrazine released from the tank upon impact could result in immediate danger. If this operation is successful, the hydrazine will then no longer pose a risk to humans.

The U.S. government has been and continues to track and monitor this satellite. Various government agencies are planning for the reentry of the satellite. In the event the engagement is not successful, all appropriate elements of the U.S. Government are working together to explore options to mitigate the danger to humans and to ensure that all parties are properly prepared to respond. In the unlikely event satellite pieces land in a populated area, people are strongly advised to avoid the impact area until trained hazardous materials (HAZMAT) teams are able to properly dispose of any remaining hydrazine.

Hmmm. When I read the headline, I thought to myself - "Huh? We're going after Cuba?"

Then I read the release, and my reaction was When? Where? Will I be able to see it? I wanna see it! I wanna I wanna I wanna!

However, not being an orbital math whiz, I'm guessing that if I *can* see it, here in the middle of the lower 48, that would probably not be a good thing.

Oh - and I also think we're doing this as much to demonstrate we *can* do it, as because of any inherent hazard. Which would indicate a high level of confidence that we'll succeed.

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15 Comments

By kat-missouri on February 15, 2008 8:41 AM
Dude, that is so funny because that is exactly what I thouhgt when I read the article: 1) Can I see it? 2) Uh..never mind, probably not a good thing if I do. LOL
 
By Rivrdog on February 15, 2008 9:11 AM
Bush and the JCS blew this. Now they will have Russia and China focusing every space-surveillance tool they have in an attempt to see the sea-launched missile do it's job, or fail (and have all the data as to why in either case). They can narrow down their surveillance time to a small slice of each orbit. The Hydrazine crap is just that. The remaining hydrazine (an oxidizer) wouldn't pose much more danger than the fuel tank on a garbage truck rupturing in your neighborhood with a resulting spill. It has about a 99.98% chance of burning up or being dispersed in the upper atmosphere and never making it to the surface of the planet, and if it did, there is about an 80% chance that it would fall into the ocean. So, 20% of 0.02% is what? Certainly not enough danger to spend from one to 3 Sprint missiles on. Nope, the "Sky Marshal" (CinC SpaceCom) wanted this show, so they're doing it. End of story.
 
By BillT on February 15, 2008 9:31 AM
Concur with Rivrdog. BTW, *yeast* produces hydrazine...
 
By Boquisucio on February 15, 2008 10:05 AM
***Where does Cricket keeps her aluminum foil in her pantry? I just need to borrow some just one bit, to fancy my-self a pointy little hat*** There's more here than meets the eye. Those amongst us that sport black passports, went out of their way to make this very public. China, made its point a few months back. God knows who else before them, which we blue passported ones do not know about... And now is time for us to make a brilliant splash up on the sky. All for reasons that are not for public consumption.
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 15, 2008 10:19 AM
And Boq raises the Asteroid Spectre...
 
By Boquisucio on February 15, 2008 10:36 AM
Space Mountains eh? Actually, racing solar pinballs were not in my scope. I was thinking more on the geopolitical sense. Though Art Bell might think otherwise. ***More Tin-Foil, I NEED MORE TINFOIL***
 
By kat-missouri on February 15, 2008 10:46 AM
Nope, the "Sky Marshal" (CinC SpaceCom) wanted this show, so they're doing it. End of story.
China, made its point a few months back. God knows who else before them, which we blue passported ones do not know about... And now is time for us to make a brilliant splash up on the sky. All for reasons that are not for public consumption.
Yeah...I thought it was for both and wonder why that is a big deal? You show us yours, we'll be happy to show you ours.
 
By Oldloadr on February 15, 2008 12:58 PM
You know, F-16s have been flying around (and occasionally crashing) since 1978 with about 150lbs of hydrazine on board (fuels the emergency power unit). Yet, nobody ever made a big deal about it before... because... it's rocket fuel, which means it burns up in a fiery crash. Space junk gets pretty hot on re-entry... However, if it works and it sends the signal the big dogs want sent, cool... I guess.
 
By John on February 15, 2008 4:20 PM
Didn't NASA trip offline when the Chinese blew up a satellite and created a ring of space junk? What's the difference this time?
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 15, 2008 4:29 PM
Being unsure of the intended engagement parameters, I have the impression they are going to try to hit it in very low orbit,where the debris (they hope) will all rapidly decay into re-entry and burn. That or they're going to try to hit it on re-entry.
 
By BillT on February 15, 2008 7:56 PM
That or they're going to try to hit it on re-entry. Assuming, of course, that it doesn't re-enter over, say, *land*...
 
By John of Argghhh! on February 15, 2008 8:02 PM
My, aren't *you* picky!!!
 
By Trias on February 15, 2008 8:26 PM
Yes i too thought of it being a show that they can blow up stuff in space. Reminded me of China. Lordy if they miss, it's going to look bad.
 
By TmjUtah on February 15, 2008 11:05 PM
I've seen speculation that the mass differential between the vehicles means that too-large chunks of the satellite will be left. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but the SM3 is a a hit-to-kill proposition, isn't it? My HP is out in the dining room, but I think that anything the size of a minivan hit by a twenty pound object moving at orbital velocity is going to be much less of a threat to hurt anybody on the ground than one not hit... But I agree. It's a test, with clear warning given so the right people could dig up the right cameras and other sensors. And a film at eleven would be nice, too.
 
By ry on February 17, 2008 8:20 PM
Being a Tweed jacket, worn at the elbows of course, kind of guy I'm all for doing this. do you know how long I've been ganged up on by physicists saying that HTK was impossible? 'But we're going to reveal data about the system, you idiot gollum!' Yeah, and? It's a game of measure and coutermeasure. That wheel always turns. Get over it. Or did you like the idea of Americans dying Over There because we didn't want to risk the Bosch (or our allies) getting ahold of a BAR? Better to know the system works than put the entire ABMD system as sea based(which I've got rumint that is being considered) with something we're real unsure about. So do it. When it works I plan on crowing loud and long, and potentially collecting a few thousand dollars in bets(likely nobody will pay up though, weasels). "Assuming, of course, that it doesn't re-enter over, say, *land*..." Dude, don't force me to leave myself open to endless hours of ridicule by going into slant range and things like that. We all know I'd make a mistake, and it's damn silly for someone like me to argue such a topic with you, Unka Bill. Pish tosh. WHere over land is important, but not the absolutely deciding factor. If it enters over, say, Central Siberia heading west yeah, it ain't bloody likely. BUt over, say, Arizona heading west? Doable.