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NASA's HETE Coming Down
terrymr writes "NASA expects the High Energy Transient Experiment spacecraft which failed to successfully detach from the third stage of its launch rocket in 1996 to fall to earth within the next few days. While most of the spacecraft will likely burn up in the upper atmosphere there is a good chance that the spacecraft's batteries (weighing 33lbs each) may reach the ground intact. Current predictions put re-entry at 4:41 EDT Sunday April 7 (+/- two days)."
There it lay.. a thing of beauty. Little puddles of water shimmered on the surface, and small shapes of moonlight reflected off the soft yellow form of the toilet. I stood back and admired my work as the roaches scurried about. Then it hit me... I'm going to die for my sin.
.. the fall into madness that leaves me here in this severely disturbed state, in this bathroom... the daemons which torment my poor soul on this awful night... My gaze settles on the creeping mold behind the toilet as the dank room blurs out of view.
... but I was going to have my revenge. I kicked down the back door and dragged all the stuff upstairs to the bathroom near his room. There I went to work, mixing the thick concrete in his dingy toilet like a bowl of slowly petrifying hot grits. My foul, evil mixture began to harden as the night passed. Soon, all the toilets, sinks and bathtubs in the house had suffered the same fate. Even the mighty washing machine was filled with the thick stone. I prayed to god that this act of pure evil would free me from the daemons that laughed at me, the same horrible trolls that forced me to commit this terrible crime. I chuckled to myself as I imagined that cretinistic moose lugging a concrete filled toilet down a flight of stairs. I hoped that he'd break his fucking spine...
Allow me to explain what has transpired here tonight
--
It was earlier in the evening. I had just finished getting dressed. The rented tux was stiff and uncomfortable, not to mention expensive. The happiest night of my sixteen years of life was about to take place. It was almost 8:00, and she was going to be there soon. I couldn't wait to go to the prom.
Jen was an interesting girl, generic though interesting in many ways. She wasn't the prettiest girl in my history class, but she was the only one willing to go out with someone like myself. She was only in ninth grade, though she was not much younger than me. The relationship between Jen and I was not as important as how this night was going to go.
My parents were upstairs yelling and fighting next to my room as the doorbell rang. I jumped off my bed and ran downstairs. As I threw open the door, the biggest ogre I've ever known was at the door. He lived a few houses down, and he has bullied me since I was in second grade. I looked around his massive hulk to see his large, noisy, black chevy nova idling in my driveway. I did a double take as I saw Jen sitting in the passenger seat, looking in the mirror and primping. She looked down a little bit and our eyes met for a split second. She gave me a wry smile and a little wave, then glanced away. It was obvious that she was not going to be my date this night.
I sat in the garage and cried for an hour or so, sitting on a large sack of cement mix. Fine powder had poured out of a small tear in the bag, my tears mixed with the powder on the floor. This gave me an idea. I grabbed the wheelbarrow in the corner of the garage and loaded up the materials for my dirty deed.
Nobody was home at Jason's house, the big brute had my date
... but me. Was I going to live to see the sun rise in the morning?
Before the sky falls. Anyone might perish under the batteries crashing down. Live your life to the fullest before you no longer habe the change.
I simply refuse to believe that's possible...anyhow, as if science can prove anything.
Kathy is pregnant !
Will that be a boy or girl ?
They would have kept going, and going, and going...
They must'a used these instead...
-RickTheWizKid
Too early... that's supposed to read "have the chance" at the end. I think I'm going to sleep those days away.
/me wonders whether items will appear on ebay before they even land...
-- ribbit
Hmm..anyone care to explain that?
Does anyone know how to bring this up with NASA's tracking program?
Reminds me of when Skylab fell to earth, dumping pieces of itself over Western Australia. The local president of the town council, Mervin Andre, gave the Director of NASA a littering ticket when chunks of the disintegrating space station dropped over the area southeast of Perth. The ticket remains unpaid to this day, although the council later waived the fine anyway.
"Einstein argued that [...] God is not capricious or arbitrary. No such faith comforts the software engineer." ~ Brooks
What are the chances of this hitting somebody? People say the chances are slim to nill, and just recently a significant piece of equipment came down and I didn't here about anyone getting hit. But a couple years ago NASA printed an article that the odds of someone being hit by the falling Iridium debris were about 1 in 250. By my count, this is the third potentially hazardous satellite entry in as many years, leading me to believe that eventually, someone will be hit.
HETE coming down, Bass going up.
All your Bass are belong to us!
Mod me up, baby!
The HETE-1 was supposed to look for gamma ray bursts. If you haven't heard about these events, they are believed to emanate from explosions so powerful that they produce more energy in a matter of seconds than the sun will emit in its entire 10 billion years of life.
The cool thing is that astronomers have almost no idea what could be causing these enormous bursts.
Check out http://www.sciam.com/0797issue/0797fishman.html for more information.
Thanks!
Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
Does it concern anyone else that a 2-day window is awfully large? That means even the us space command can't really pinpoint where this thing will come down, even though it's our own junk. Kinda makes you wonder how it would go if a meteor, etc got too close...
Sir_Haxalot
stuff |
..it will land in USA, King County, ZIP-code 98052-6399 and create a huge explosion.
how can they give the TIME of the event when they are not even sure about the DAY?
Looking for people to chat about multicopters, coding, music. skype: gtsiros
American StupidityAmerican Stupidity
(without permission)Associated Press
Herald-Leader
Friday, May 24, 1996
WASHINGTON - Less than half of American adults understand that the Earth orbits the sun yearly, according to a basic science survey. Despite flubbing such questions, there is enthusiasm for research -except in some fields such as genetic engineering and nuclear power that are viewed with suspicion.
Only about 25% of American adults got passing grades in a survey by the National Science Foundation of what people know about basic science and economics. Even fewer of those surveyed felt they were well-informed about technical subjects.
The worst showing came when those surveyed were asked to define scientific terms. Only about 9% knew what a molecule was, and only 21% could define DNA.
But even more fundamental questions stumped man: Less than 1/2 knew that the Earth orbits the sun annually. In a test of environmental understanding, 1/3 of Americans surveyed understood the effects of a thinning ozone layer, 14% could identify locations of ozone holes, and only 5% could give a scientific explanation of acid rain.
Even money questions stumped most Americans. A 10-point quiz on economics showed that only 22% could correctly answer 7 or more of the questions. "Only 10% feel feel very well informed about science and technology, and studies show that only a small segment of the population has a strong grasp of basic scientific ideas," according to a report released yesterday by the foundation. On a 10-part quiz testing scientific understanding, only 27% of the American adults surveyed could answer 7 or more questions.
Despite a fundamental lack of understanding, the survey found that 72% of American adults think science research is worthwhile. Only 13% took the opposite view. Among college graduates, 90% thought the benefits of research outweighed the risks, while only 48% of those who did not complete high school felt that way. The survey, however, found many Americans fearful of some aspects of science. Support for nuclear power was about evenly split, with 43% saying its benefits were greater than its risks, and 42% taking an opposite view; 14% were uncertain. Genetic engineering fared only slightly better. 43% saw it as beneficial, but 35% said the dangers outweigh benefits. About 20% were undecided. Medical discoveries were rated the most interesting science topics in 69% of those who took the survey. Space exploration scored the lowest - just 25%. About 40% of those surveyed expressed high confidence in scientists and medical workers. The rating was only 25% for leaders in education, religion, and corporations.
GO AHEAD; CHECK YOURSELF OUT
1. The center of the earth is very hot. (True/false)
2. The oxygen we breathe comes from plants (true/false)
3. Electrons are smaller than atoms (true/false)
4. The continents on which we live have been moving their location for millions of years and will continue to move in the future. (true/false)
5. Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals. (true/false)
6. The earliest human beings lived at the same time as the dinosaurs. (true/false)
7. Which travels faster: light or sound?
8. How long does it take for Earth to go around the sun: one day / one month / or one year?
9. Tell me, in your own words, what is DNA?
10. Tell me, in your own words, what is a molecule?
Answers, along with the percentage of correct responses:
1. True - 78% 2. True - 85% 3. True - 44% 4. True - 79% 5. True - 44% 6. False - 48% 7. light - 75% 8. one year - 47% 9. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is a large molecule in the chromosomes which contain the genetic information for each cell. 21% 10. Molecule is the smallest unit of a chemical compound capable of existing independently while retaining the properties of the original substance. 9%
It would be interesting to add a webpage containing a list of hardware that is compatible with this SDR out-of-the-box or is planned to be supported.
Guess somebody's getting a little too specific in their "predictions" given their precision. In other news, today's high will be 67.2 degrees (+/-40).
will i be able to use these batteries to power my dirty GNU hippie radio?
-----im billy troll----- im better than you at everything you do.
American style is that 80% functions should work under 80% of conditions. That's why NASA has so high % of failure.
Capitalism is good for 80% industries. Space sector is one of those which require dictate-based management and military discipline.
Yet they cant determine how soon that satellite is going to hit which is exponentially sooner.
I was astounded when I read that "nearly 3,000 satellites and spacecraft now in orbit around Earth" in CNN's coverage of the story. I wonder if they are counting space junk? It seems like a huge number. With so many in the sky, it is a wonder there is not knews of this sort every day. There was another uncontrolled decent in January of a Nasa satellite. I liked this quote: "Orbital debris has never been known to injure a human, but legend has it a chunk of Skylab brought an untimely end to an Australian cow."
japan. pictures. humor. me
You know, I actually tried to work out the force of impact of one of the batteries, but then I realized: who actually would give a crap? It's gonna hit, and it's gonna make a really big thud.
I just hope nobody ends up in the way, or it'll turn out to be a big splat.
There are only 10 kinds of people in this world... those who understand binary and those who don't
With all the space junk in orbit now, I wonder if the reason we have not be been contacted by aliens isn't because we are the bad neighbors in the milkyway. We are like the people on the street with uncut grass and old broken down crap strewn all around our yard. Nobody wants to come over and say hello because they assume the residents are low lifes. If we do get a visit, it may be the head of the galaxy association telling us to take down the tacky mood decorations and clean the junk out of our space.
japan. pictures. humor. me
Let me get this straight, on March 16, 2880, we will get hit by an asteroid. But they can only manage to place this in the next 4 or 5 days?
I guess physics isn't an exact science.
it will be the vogons... and they will tell us that the earth will be destroyed to make way for a new hyperspace by way...
If it was at all possible, would NASA consider forcefully bringing the satellite down, eg: over an unpopulated area of an ocean?
Or would this have unfortunate legal issues: international airspace, colateral damage.
... for every slashdotter if a part of this falls on the beer can I have placed outside in my garden. not_cub
q='echo "q=$s$q$s;s=$b$s;b=$b$b;$q"';s=\';b=\\;echo "q=$s$q$s;s=$b$s;b=$b$b;$q"
* 2002-04-05 19:01:34 Uncontrolled Re-entry of Spacecraft to Occur This Weekend(articles,space) (rejected)
In other words, the weight of all 4 batteries is 15 kilos, not the weight of each battery. Still, 3.5 kilos at terminal velocity is nothing to sneeze at - perhaps I should buy a large number of pillows from Yahoo!....
www.eFax.com are spammers
"...there is a good chance that the spacecraft's batteries (weighing 33lbs each) may reach the ground intact."
So...when should I expect it to land on my car?
"You tried your best and failed miserably. The lesson is...never try. Heh!" -Homer
'Stainless steel batteries? ' I think not. More likely that they are plutonium or some other nuclear material, and the reason that no predictions are being made about where they will land is because NASA doesn't want to start a panic. As I understand it they are designed to burn up on re-entry to avoid ground level contamination (that says nothing of atmospheric contamination along the flight path). If they survive all the way to the ground and they are radiological....
Space Nuclear Power Systems
Space Nuclear Power System Accidents
Bulletin of Atomic Scientists: How many nuclear devices are there in space?
Link to CNN story.
Where's the Taco Bell Target sitting for this one?
Um, you might want to actually read about the satellite before assuming it uses radiothermal generators.
The great big solar panels in the picture of the satellite might have been a hint that it didn't use nuclear power.
From the HETE pages (describing HETE-2, an exact duplicate of the HETE-1 craft whose launch was unsuccessful):
The HETE-2 power system hardware consists of
You can find more information on the specs of the HETE satellites at http://space.mit.edu/HETE/spacecraft.html .
Also interesting, from a different perspective, is the first part of this Alan Kay essay.
Fuck you!
The question now is will Taco Bell put another big bulls-eye out in the general area and offer free tacos to the world if it gets hit again?
"Well kids, you tried your best, and you failed. The lesson is, never try." -Homer Simpson
People keep asking why they don't know when it will hit"
"The re-entry is uncontrolled, and due to potential solar flux variations, time and location predictions will not be reliable until only a few hours before the re-entry event," said Scott Hull"
And contrary to what the original post says, the batteries are not 33 pounds each. That is the total weight of all of them.
Initial analysis indicates that only four small stainless-steel batteries, weighing a total of 15 kilograms (33 pounds) will survive re-entry."
Anyone know the predicted area of landing? I'm sure a general idea can be had based on current orbit...
CAn'T CompreHend SARcaSm?
there is a good chance that the spacecraft's batteries (weighing 33lbs each) may reach the ground intact
If I'm lucky I won't have to buy that extra laptop battery...
Well, there's our tax dollars at work. Can I get a nice big OOPS??
"True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing"
With all of that orbiting space junk out there, why not salvage it? It seems to me an awful waste to just burn it up in the atmosphere, especially when the average bird is on the order of US$150M.
'He who has to break a thing to find out what it is, has left the path of wisdom.' -- Gandalf to Saruman
I had a great time reading those articles, thanks for posting them here!
Here a link to the text of the Bavarian state-owned news channel that reports mysterious lightning effects yesterday evening in Southern Bavaria around Munich, Germany:
http://www.br-online.de/news/aktuell/
(Look for "Mysteriöse Lichterscheinungen über Südbayern - Weltraummüll?")
And for convenience the Babelfish translation (since the original is not linkable):
"Mysterious lightning effects over Southern Bavaria - Space debris?
Munich: In the sky over South Bavaria it gave several fire balls and optical phenomena yesterday evening. Hundreds anxious humans addressed themselves to the police. Particularly in the region "Bayerischer Wald" and Garmisch as well as in Munich long lightning effects were to be seen around 22:30 for several seconds. Pilots of airliners and military jets announced similar observations over radio. There are no reports about injuries or damages. The space authority NASA had announced that on weekend space garbage over Central Europe could fall. Yesterday it could not yet acknowledge a connection with these optical phenomena however."
I am always interested by NASA's 'scientific' determination of falling objects... they designate the time to the hour, indeed to the minute, then add, +/- 2 days...? Why don't they instead tell us the average ground speed of the Brown-crested Swallow?
Anyone notice the update to the annoucement. Looks like it re-entered above China. As if our relationship with them isn't shaky enough.....here's a satalite for ya!
"Sexy Man" is not a moderation option. -- arose
We are like the people on the street with uncut grass and old broken down crap strewn all around our yard. Nobody wants to come over and say hello because they assume the residents are low lifes. If we do get a visit, it may be the head of the galaxy association telling us to take down the tacky mood decorations and clean the junk out of our space.
Or not. Judging from my experience when I leave old junked cars and major appliances in my front yard, it's a great way to make new friends and the encounter would go more like this:
Interstellar pickup truck with interstellar Confederate flag comes up to the edge of our debris field. Occupant gets out, picks his way gingerly down to the surface, knocks on International Space Agency's door.
"Hi there. I wuz just drivin' by, and I was wundrin, is y'all still usin' that there Iridium system you'se've got still orbitin' yer planet? I got sompin' like it at home and I need some parts. Kin I take it off'n yer hands fer a coupla cases of beer? Thank-ye kindly."
Fire and Meat. Yummy.
Here's why I'm making a point of insulting you. Nuclear power of all kinds is backed by a lobby of smug, short-sighted techno-fetishists who just love it in when some hippie does the usual misinformed kneejerk antinuke rant. This allows them to portray all their opponents as such, and avoid the serious issues nuclear technology raise. You just scored one for their side!
All you had to do was make a quick search on Google, which would have led you straight to the specs for the spacecraft in question. Which would have told you that the HETE is powered by a combo of solar cells and nicads.
(Of course, nicads are also an environmental problem, but at least the ones on HETE aren't going into a landfill. Good environmentalist that you are, I hope you take your used nicads to a toxic waste depot. Or is pollution always somebody else's fault?)
Next time you feel inclined to speak up for The Cause, make sure you're actually serving The Cause, and not your own pathetic ego.