NASA's Skylab $400 Littering Fine Paid By DJ

astroengine writes "Space Disco speaks with a Californian radio DJ about his role in raising, and paying, NASA's 30-year old littering fine levied by a Western Australian town. Skylab parts fell on Esperance in 1979, but the space agency's refusal to pay $400 has resulted in an entertaining annual grudge. Now the Barstow radio DJ is guest of honor at this weekend's 30th anniversary celebrations in Oz and the two small towns at opposite ends of the Pacific will be twinned... all because Skylab had a messy re-entry..."

Comments

Tough Luck

[Anonymous Coward]

If you don't want America's garbage raining down on you, you are going to have to defeat us on the field of battle.

What's that? You haven't printed trillions of dollars to build up an absurdly capable military?

I suggest you grab a helmet and dig yourself a bunker, mate.

Simpsons

[BigJClark]

This story reads like a Simpsons' episode.

You know they need better budget managers when...

[panoptical2]

NASA needs DJs to raise $400 for a littering fine applied 30 years ago.

SkyLab II: ISS Strikes Back

[powerlord]

Skylab parts fell on Esperance in 1979, but the space agency's refusal to pay $400 has resulted in an entertaining annual grudge.

Just wait till they DeOrbit ISS in 2016. I think I know where the "miscalculated" orbit might end up.

I expect the headline "Small New Zealand town vaporized as a result of Kilometer-Mile error made computing the ISS re-entry trajectory."

Re:Just wait!

[system1111]

crashes has such negative connotations. NASA prefers you use the term terrestrial parking. Thanks!

Re:You know they need better budget managers when.

[Anonymous Coward]

Gotta love government bureaucracy. I guarantee you it was supposed to be approved by some middle manager who left/got transferred before getting around to doing it - and no one ever bothered to check after that.

Re:You know they need better budget managers when.

[Niris]

Pretty sure Fresno's on that list, too. All hellholes.

Re:DJ didn't read the fine print

[MeatBag PussRocket]

if i had read the fine print, i'd certainly have paid the $400. hell i could recoup the cost by ebaying just one chunk of that thing. theres 300 million people in amreica, millions of whom would pay a good chunk of coin to own a piece of a space station. one mans trash...

Re:I already have a bunker, you insensitive clod

[elrous0]

USA hasn't been in a war since the civil war.

You lie! I distinctly remember the Soviets invading back in the 80's. And it didn't even take our army to defeat them, just Patrick Swayze and a plucky bunch of teenagers.