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NASA Satellite Falls Back To Earth; Landfall in Canada
CNET, among many other sources, reports that the declining orbit of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite has declined all the way; the satellite reentered and broke up in Earth's atmosphere last night, though the exact time, and thus location, of the reentry was unknown at the time. CNET quotes NASA's release, which says the satellite "fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23, and 1:09 a.m. EDT Sept. 24." The Christian Science Monitor has a newer story, which reports that at least some debris from the satellite hit land in Okotoks, Canada, with no injuries. NASA's Science Office page on the satellite (not yet updated to account for the deorbit) says the satellite was launched in 1991, with a planned operational life of three years.
Cellphones, rockets, chemicals... we live in the age of personal empowerment. There is great danger coming from mentally handicapped individuals, as probably is the case of that Norwegian moron -- so we must limit access to some technologies.
But I suspect this is somewhat ineffective, just like security by obscurity. Does someone have any idea on how to prevent such things?
Being able to shoot back? In Texas we had one big case of a gun toting moron. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luby's_massacre We have not had one since, because the criminal is not the only one armed. I am ignoring Fort Hood, as that was federal land, and follows federal gun laws, so no one on the military base was armed. True irony. (The moron even had to buy the gun he used at a private gun store... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hood_shooting ) The Norway story would have been better like this one. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Colorado_YWAM_and_New_Life_shootings#New_Life_Church_shooting
Now I will get Offtopic, which does apply, and Troll, which mean "I disagree." Who will win?