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Delta Rocket Crashes In Mongolia

Dr La writes "Two metal objects, one cylindrical and a smaller round one, crashed near Buren Soum in the Tuv province of Mongolia, in an empty field, on 19 February. They are parts of an American Delta II rocket stage (nr. 35939, 2009-052C) that launched the military STSS Demo 1 & 2 satellites in September 2009. Both articles linked above say that the larger of the two objects is 7.5 meters in diameter, but in this photo it looks more like 7.5 feet. It is marked with the serial number '02728.' (The military STSS program is intended for space-based detection and tracking of missiles.) In the months leading up to the February 19 orbital decay over Mongolia, the fall of the rocket stage was followed by amateur satellite trackers. Based on their final orbit determinations just hours before the decay, the decay must have occurred near 3:32 UTC on February 19."

6 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. How do you say... by zappepcs · · Score: 2, Funny

    Sanford and Son in Mongolian?

  2. Sketchy evidence? by 1+a+bee · · Score: 2, Funny
    I'm no expert in spaceships and such, so all I can go on are the linked articles. This passage from the Mongol News, however (the only article I could find that mentions anything about a Delta rocket) is not terribly trust inspiring:

    According to a team comprising specialists from defense, emergency and astrology, who inspected the object, the two objects described by local people as meteoroids, were parts of U.S delivery rocket Delta-2.

    I for one would take this with a pinch of salt. Especially if it comes from an astrologer, or from one who can't tell one from an astronomer.

  3. I wonder how soon before the technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    from that rocket makes its way into Chinese appliances that we buy at Wal-mart.

  4. Next US war by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    On February 19th Mongolia declared war on the US after a missile attack that left one yak dead and several others startled. On February 20th Mongolia surrendered to the US and demanded war reparations totaling 20 billion dollars as well as one yak and roughly 10 gallons of milk lost from the startled yaks.

    1. Re:Next US war by JustOK · · Score: 3, Funny

      Not money. For yaks offed, Smirnoff!

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
  5. That Sure Was A Close One! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wow, that was a near thing! Good thing this landing occurred in this empty field, otherwise it might have.... uhhhh.... fallen in the next empty field?