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US Satellites Dodging Chinese Missile Debris
GSGKT writes "Today's Washington Times runs a story about the increasing problem with space junk orbiting the earth. Debris from the anti-satellite missile test by the Chinese military last year threatens the integrity of more than 800 operating satellites, half of them belonging to the US. Two orbiting U.S. spacecraft were forced to change course to avoid being damaged soon after the incident. Air Force Brig. Gen. Ted Kresge, director of air, space and information operations at the Air Force Space Command in Colorado, estimates that
"essentially (Chinese anti-satellite tests) increase the amount of space debris orbiting the Earth by about 20 percent", and the debris might threaten spacecraft for up to 100 years."
Kill all of the Chinese. They just ruin everything.
Actually, removing satellites could be a very good thing. Fox's propaganda network depends on satellite comms. Blowing the fuck out of satellites carrying Fox might free significant lumps of the world population from Murdoch's hypnosis.
it's bad
When the americans do it: look Britney Spears is shaving her head again!
When the chinese test anti-missile techology: think of the pollution they create, and all these flashes and sonic booms...
When the americans do it: they are defening democracy and freedom(tm)
When the chinese test anti-satelite technology: bad
when the americans do it: we are entering the space era with a guarantee that our nation will remain defended (along with democracy and freedom(tm))...
damn americans why don't you shut up and pay your debt to the chinese? Huh? Shall there be a call to the Chinese Debt Collector Squad? You've seen enough Ninja movies haven't you?
I smell propaganda BS, How much crap the US put up over the years. It seems to be the "its not wrong when we're doing/did it." argument. Admitidly I believe in more recent history the US is the front runner in trying to prevent the buildup of space junk, But from my understanding it has not been the case for all that long. If memory serves Russa is currently the front runner for space junk (closely followed by the US), and the only reason for that is a accidental design flaw in one of their main satalite programs that leaked coolent of some kind into (MEO?) orbit. Should China have tooken more safegards to prevent debris, sure. Should one of the front running countries for orbital trash be complaining about the actions of one of the countries that had/has the least, No. And of course the whole thing probably has little to do with the debris created and more to do with the fact that china is trying to level the playing field with the overgrown beast which is the US Military.
This might help, its a bit old but probably still generaly relevent
http://www.space.com/spacewatch/space_junk_list.html
Perhaps they weren't anti-satellite "tests" at all. By that I mean that they've accomplished at least two goals: made the space over China less habitable to spy satellites and by having to maneuver more often our spy satellites become easier to detect. Move well played, China!
Conti8ues toChew
I should have said the US is telling half truths. I am sure junk from the Chinese blown satellite does not constitute even ½ of 1% of the debris in space, which debris was overwhelmingly produced by the US and the Soviets.
Unless, of course, the Chinese have developed some sort of non-Newtonian thruster system that lets their space trash hover in one place.
Um...my DirectTV satellite does just that. It's called a geostationary orbit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostationary_orbit. It has been around for quite some time and is used for most telecommunication satellite. It does require thrusters here and there due to debris, solar winds, etc... but for the most part it just sits in one place above the earth and appears stationary to an observer on the ground.
Ok this is a joke, but shows underneath that you frustrated Americans still think you are something in this World, besides the grunts of the Oil Companies.
You are not! The World DOES NOT NEED the USA! You are an economic failure, a banana republic with more than 30% Latino population that doesn't even speak your own national language! So you, the USA, are the big crap losers of this world. You are just a bunch of bankrupt failure retards that think you are still something. Let's see what happens when China and Russia get together to beat your loser arse out of this planet.
I just hope it happens soon, before the Arabs eliminate you, Yankee plague.