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Debris From India's Anti-Satellite Test Poses Threat To ISS, Says NASA (npr.org)
When India blew apart one of its satellites orbiting Earth last week, it created hundreds of pieces of orbital debris, and some of those pieces are large enough and high enough to pose a potential threat to the International Space Station, NASA says. "That is a terrible, terrible thing to create an event that sends debris in an apogee that goes above the International Space Station," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said, referring to the debris' highest point in orbit. "And that kind of activity is not compatible with the future of human space flight that we need to see happen." NPR reports: In calculating the Indian test's potential impact last week, he said NASA determined that the risk of small debris hitting the space station was increased by 44 percent over a period of 10 days. "It's unacceptable, and NASA needs to be very clear about what its impact to us is," Bridenstine said, discussing space debris and India's anti-satellite test at a town hall event Monday.
As he spoke about the heightened risk, the NASA administrator also emphasized that both the space station and the astronauts aboard it are safe. The station can be maneuvered out of harm's way if needed, he added. But another danger, he said, is that "when one country does it, then other countries feel like they have to do it, as well." "The good thing is, it's low enough in Earth orbit that over time, this will all dissipate," Bridenstine said on Monday. Those pieces are expected to burn up as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere. India's intercept of its own satellite created 400 pieces of orbital debris, Bridenstine said. "What we are tracking right now -- objects big enough to track, we're talking about 10 centimeters [4 inches] or bigger -- about 60 pieces have been tracked," he said. "Of those 60, we know that 24 of them are going above the apogee of the International Space Station."
As he spoke about the heightened risk, the NASA administrator also emphasized that both the space station and the astronauts aboard it are safe. The station can be maneuvered out of harm's way if needed, he added. But another danger, he said, is that "when one country does it, then other countries feel like they have to do it, as well." "The good thing is, it's low enough in Earth orbit that over time, this will all dissipate," Bridenstine said on Monday. Those pieces are expected to burn up as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere. India's intercept of its own satellite created 400 pieces of orbital debris, Bridenstine said. "What we are tracking right now -- objects big enough to track, we're talking about 10 centimeters [4 inches] or bigger -- about 60 pieces have been tracked," he said. "Of those 60, we know that 24 of them are going above the apogee of the International Space Station."
Stop making shitting-street jokes, we have space program now!
*proceeds to shit all over the outer space*
Perhaps it should be made compulsory for anyone working in the space sector.
Grrr why did China weaponize space? America and Russia were so peaceful up there.
No wait he already did
The Indians have a problem (putting it extremely lightly) with pollution, garbage, littering, and all sorts of fun, unsanitary stuff on their streets and even in their most holy river -- in their own country. Did anyone think they'd actually respect the rest of the planet? Or even space?
44% larger is the number I've been seeing for the extra risk.
So, what's the baseline risk? 0.01% chance of being hit any given year? 44% larger then becomes 0.0144% chance of being hit with the debris of that satellite. Hardly a significant risk, really....
"I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
India sent a message loud and clear: we will do this, and we don't care if it causes space junk. I hope everyone got the message. The US State Department is very big on "sending messages" with its actions. Let's see how they like being on the receiving end for once. I think it'll be very educational for them to attend another country's lesson instead of being the one dishing it out.
Shutting down free speech with violence isn't fighting fascism. It IS fascism!
It's all a T-Series plot to shut down significant portions of the Internet and win their war on Pewdiepie!
the future of human space flight that we *wish* to see happen.
Just stating that some (agreeable or not) wish is a "need" does not make it such.
(and I do share that wish, but I don't like wishful thinking or distorted use of speech, such in propaganda and agenda pushing)
And does anyone have a public list of TLEs for the debris cloud? Or at least a list of apogees and perigees?
The solution is to scale down. OK, so they shot up a missile the blew up a satellite and made a bunch of junk. So now, send up a bunch of smaller missiles to blow up the bits of junk. Then send a bigger batch of smaller still missiles to blow up the now smaller junk. Rinse repeat until no problem.
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
because it is the single largest pollution criminal when it comes to earth orbital pollution. Stop trying to make India out as a criminal because their space program is harvesting success after success. Get over yourself, NASA.
Africa South america etc
Cuz those beaches. Man, those beaches!
Can just imagine NASA receiving a call from Bangalore after the ISS gets hit... 'hello, we understand you have been in an accident that was not your fault?'
This is an act of war perpetrated by the Indian government. We should glass the entire Indian subcontinent immediately.
ISS poses threat to India's Satellite Debris, says ISRO
Says someone who doesn't appreciate the technology they use regularly that resulted from space exploration.
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/tech_benefits.html
Maybe I am a bit naive to even suggest this, but it seems to me that now would be an appropriate time for the nations of the world to enter into a treaty specifically designed to avoid one-or-more jackasses from ruining space access for the entire human race. I would call it the Kessler Avoidance Treaty (KAT).
It is, generally, a set of rules to avoid a tragedy of the (space) commons - a general agreement not to shit all over the near-Earth environment (100 km to, say, 600 km). Among its provisions would be:
* A blanket ban on anti-satellite missiles or other ways of destroying satellites that create debris clouds. This includes not only the deployment of such weapons, but also their development and testing.
* Require whoever launches a rocket to ensure that all orbital-velocity, non-payload masses (e.g., upper stages, payload fairings, etc.) have a built in method to guarantee de-orbiting within, say, three months. (I suppose parking in a higher orbit, like 5000 km, would also be acceptable.)
* Active payloads (i.e., satellites) must have a documented plan for end-of-life that ensures de-orbiting within, say, 1 year after end-of-service.
* A service fee attached to all orbital launches (including those that pass through near-Earth to other orbits, like geosynchronous) to fund the development and eventual deployment of measures to remove debris and other hazards from the near-Earth environment. This could be lasers, satellites that tether to and de-orbit other satellites, and who knows what else. The service fee would be based on rocket gross weight at liftoff (although probably on a logarithmic, rather than linear scale).
* The development of international design standards for satellite manufacturers and launch providers to reduce small fragmentary debris: paint chips, frangible bolts, etc.)
Yup, this will make space launches a bit more expensive: it will slightly lower the payload that a particular rocket can deliver. I call that chump change compared to the catastrophic cost of a full-blown Kessler syndrome, which would wipe out >$100B of already-launched assets, degrade the $Trillions of annual economic activity that utilizes space services, endanger the lives of humans in space, and render access-to-space difficult or impossible for a generation.
There is plenty of precedent for humans creating and enforcing treaties against generally-bad behavior. The treaties banning atmospheric nuclear weapons tests are one good example. The Montreal Protocol for eliminating CFCs is another. These are imperfect measures, certainly, and not universal ratified. But they have gotten most of the major players on the same page, and drastically reduced the harm that could otherwise have happened. It also provides a moral framework for punishing non-ratifiers.
Right now is the best time to implement this kind of treaty. (Well, really, 5-10 years ago.) Humanity is drastically lowering the barriers to accessing space, and so we're on the cusp of a huge surge of launches. We ought to agree upon the rules now before there are 100 new players. At the same time, we are ever-more dependent on using orbiting satellites for all manner of daily activities, and there are untold riches still to be reaped.
I am, however, dreadfully pessimistic about the chances of such a treaty coming about under (present) US leadership. We have the most to gain and the most to lose. It would also be a chance to reassert some global leadership against strategic rivals such as China and Russia. But our present executive demonstrates no particular strategic thinking, and I'm sure this kind of topic and its rational solution aren't on his radar.
The endangered American IT professional. The best in the world. But India is cheaper!!!
Corporatism != Free Market
maybe they should try mastering indoor plumbing before going to space.
I wish I could say I'm surprised. India is a country where even in major cities you can see people literally squat and shit in the street. It isn't hard to understand why they have no problem with metaphorically taking a dump right on the doorstep of humanity's gateway to space.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.
Where's the "don't blow shit up in space" treaty? Are these countries stupid?
How is it these people can figure out anti-satellite technology but can't figure out how to poop in a toilet?
So what have NASA done about all the space debris before, as seen in many PBS.org documentaries.
People would have forgot about it, if NASA had not echoed it. It sounds like NASA is instigating, and hoping to sell the weapons tech to other countries who want to follow suit. Not about anyone's safety, look at their track record.
It's all about money, keeping all currencies pegged to USD.
I don't use any of that stuff.
so the UN is american "bullying" in disguise ? lol....
This is bullshit. If it would be merely or even mostly just authoritarianism then they wouldn't try take your private property nor impose their morality on you. They would leave you mostly alone if you don't challenge the oligarchy, but alas that is not what happend.
Does your second sentence contradict your first, or does the first contradict the second ?
Sorry, the technology came first, then it resulted in your space exploration.
yay!
Designated shitting orbits.
The ocean nutters conveniently forget about scurvy. Even our shore-hugging sailors are running into long term effects of scurvy. I can see the advert for the India mission: Come see India in person today, enjoy your teeth falling out for the rest of your life...sign up NOW!!!
With all the stupid shit my country has been doing in the commons lately, I'm just glad that it's somebody else's turn to be "that guy"--even if it's for just a minute.
Not posting AC. I'll own it. Not that it'll help.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." - Philip K. Dick
For this reason, God sends them a powerful delusion(operation of wandering)(planet) so that they will believe the lie.
Mystery Red of the Great American Eclipse
It has blood on it!
ABCNews: Eclipse makes pendulum wander
Sound of Silence
Sun researchers find strange eclipse reading
A AC & a damn lair, what a combo.
Yes, sending 100 tons of bearing balls into orbit will halt space exploration for several decades. Good job India!
Why do you always lie?
Ignore the troll. The girl he lusted after while in high school first friendzoned him, then unfriended and ghosted him, then married a handsome aerospace engineer with whom she had four beautiful kids. After he started stalking her and harassing her (very patient) husband, she had a restraining order filed against him. He violated it, proceeded to threaten the family at a parking lot with a knife, and managed to cut himself. He jumped up and down howling like a wounded dog before a laughing crowd then passed out. And that is one of the many reason he's so mad about space stuff. :)
Just reading back all the comments about "But no it's totally fine guys" from the previous news
https://science.slashdot.org/s...
They should have done what the US did and claim they were blowing up a failed satellite to protect the earth from it's crash.
If their stupid stunt ends up destroying the ISS and / or requires its abandonment due to their incompetence.
NORAD can't tell you how small an object they can actually track, or how many of them. What they have actually disclosed is probably only the tip of the iceberg.
Bruce Perens.
Blaming users like you blame the pilots ay? You are such a fuckboy.
The divide exists for a reason. We're tired of your shit. We don't think like you, we don't act like you, and we certainly aren't gonna support your agendas that are usually designed specifically to harm us. Enough with this "both sides" bullshit. You know the republican/conservative group is the problem here. That's why you guys are all of a sudden calling for peace and bipartisanship, and for every to just get along. Your side is LOSING and you know it.
You're that shitty boyfriend that is on his knees begging for us to not throw him out and give him one more chance. You swear you won't hit us again but you've lied about it so many times before. It's time to get the fuck out and lay in the street like the dog you are.
If I put a diamon on the curb side outside your home and your car runs over it, whose fault? ISS is in public space. If it is affected by space debris, it needs to take care. Alternative is to make a law about it. Cannot just say no to India while other countries have carried out the same tests in the past.
Typical. This is a people that shits in their main river, you think they are going to treat space any better?
Get on spacetrack and they're there. Look for things with the right start date.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/s...
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
https://www.google.com/amp/s/s...
An Indian-American Hindu committed to non-violent thought/speech/action alarmed by the global explosion of radical Islam
Per person India is at least an order of magnitude cleaner. Even China is only half as polluting as US.
Americans are so fucking stupid they don't realize or don't care. Who knows.
Their cars, aircon, food supply, travel etc are already better than the US. Why else did you think their per person CO2 was only half the level of an American?