Comments for Space Junk We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:02:13 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Space Junk 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... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:32:59 -0600 Comment from ry on 2008-02-17 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69870 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69870 Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:20:40 -0600 Comment from TmjUtah on 2008-02-15 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69829 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69829 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:05:25 -0600 Comment from Trias on 2008-02-15 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69823 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69823 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:26:09 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-02-15 My, aren't *you* picky!!! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69819 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69819 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 20:02:12 -0600 Comment from BillT on 2008-02-15 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*...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69818 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69818 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:56:30 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-02-15 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69814 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69814 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:29:39 -0600 Comment from John on 2008-02-15 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? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69813 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69813 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 16:20:21 -0600 Comment from Oldloadr on 2008-02-15 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69807 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69807 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:58:09 -0600 Comment from kat-missouri on 2008-02-15 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.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69805 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69805 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:46:46 -0600 Comment from Boquisucio on 2008-02-15 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*** http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69803 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69803 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:36:52 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2008-02-15 And Boq raises the Asteroid Spectre... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69802 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69802 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:19:58 -0600 Comment from Boquisucio on 2008-02-15 ***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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69801 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69801 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:05:13 -0600 Comment from BillT on 2008-02-15 Concur with Rivrdog. BTW, *yeast* produces hydrazine... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69799 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69799 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:31:20 -0600 Comment from Rivrdog on 2008-02-15 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. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69797 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69797 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:11:18 -0600 Comment from kat-missouri on 2008-02-15 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 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69794 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/02/space_junk.html#comment-69794 Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:41:23 -0600