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3.5 Ton Satellite to Crash Back to Earth
DeadBugs writes "CNN is reporting that the NASA Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer could crash back to earth in a matter of days. It's estimated that up to 9 large pieces (4-100 lbs.) of the Satellite could survive re-entry. Unlike the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory that was guided in, this Satellite will be uncontrolled. The EUVE has only been up there since 1992.... I wonder when this sort of thing will start to be a more common event."
...that some joker will have a piece of it up for auction on e-bay before the derbis has cooled.
The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination
- Douglas Adams
This is likely to become far more common. More and more old satellites are being shut down, and people tend to spend their satellite funding on running and using the satellite, not bringing it down safely. Maybe i should start selling insurance....
-Michael Roy Some people are like Slinkies. Not really useful, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down
Crashing so soon?
What version of Windows was it running?
time to hit yahoo for some pillows!
;-}
Slackware: old school feel, new school gear.
I missed out last time, I suggest this time that Taco Bell uses a target the size of Rhode Island. I really, really want a Taco.
Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.
with the number of objects we've put into orbit around our planet at an all time high and increasing constantly this will become more and more common. logic dictates that ultimately these things will make land in someone's yard (living room, white house, etc.).
the real problem here is what to do about it...
i propose using defunct home Internet appliances as projectiles. it would be extremely inexpensive and, when fired from a railgun at speeds in excess of 30,000ft/sec, these little beauties could easily eliminate a chunk of space debris weighing 100 or more lbs.
I wonder if they can predict what the "catchment area" of the debris is going to be..
Not to worry...Taco Bells top scientists are working on it at this moment.
If you get hit in the head by a piece of titanium travelling approximately 1300 feet per second, you probably won't have to worry about medical bills, or much of anything else for that matter.
Not yet. It is falling without thrusters or any way to move itself. Only time will tell it's exact trajectory.
Oh, great. Time to dust off the old SkyLab Detector hat.
satire, n: 1) witty language used to convey insults or scorn; 2) a form of humor lost on most slashdot moderators.
If gravity is formed by areas of extreme density, I'm putting my money on it landing in Redmond.
Please hit our provincial government, please hit our provincial government, please hit our provincial government.
Amen.
This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible. This was terrible with raisins in it. - Dorothy Parker
Its okay guys..really. Bruce Willis and his buddies are training right now. There is no cause for worry!
Crashing so soon?
What version of Linux w/Gnome is it running?
:-)
There is no longer anything that can be done with computers that is nontrivial and clearly legal. -- Paul Phillips
The satellite is expected to land in Quassy, an uninhabited part of the Australian Outback.
"Dancing is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire" --Robert Frost
I'm excited. How about you? :)
Maybe it'll hit my car. Hang on, I gotta go buy some insurance from Lloyds real quick
You can't legislate goodness. Let each to his own destiny, by will of his freely made choices.
... starlight, starbright, first star I see toni ... *thud*
___
It's the end of my comment as I know it and I feel fine.
If they could control this thing and bring it down when and where they wanted they could potentially do some interesting stuff. Like having it streak over the opening ceremonies at the Olympics.
you've never met Mr. Murphy have you? You see, he's got this law..
Gives new meaning to a 'messy' PR problem..
'shotput from god kills thousands' or something for the headline..
sigh. all too easy.
~.~
I'm a peripheral visionary.
Dude, it's freaking Skyfall Day! They actually had a block party for that sorta thing. I really wish some network would re-run the series again. it r00ld.
Oh shit! I forgot to click "Post Anonymously"...
Could all of those people who built Y2K shelters have a chance at mocking those who didn't?
In no event shall the designers of the satellite be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption; destruction of cities, countries, continents; death of all humans) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this satellite, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.
Are you kidding? At those odds? Put me in for $10. ^-^
...if it were steerable how many Linux hackers would be trying to gain control of it so they could nudge it toward Redmond...