skylab II---boonie's worst nightmare

[raycarey]

uh oh boonie.

The U.S. has lost control of a spy satellite that may contain hazardous materials, and it could hit the Earth over the next two months, government officials said Saturday.

Officials speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said they have no idea where the satellite will hit.

CTV.ca | U.S. spy satellite falling from orbit, could hit Earth



now most rational people will be able to see that 1) this really isn't a big deal (certainly it won't be worth harping on about 30 years from now), and 2) bush isn't personally responsible for it.

but here's boonie blaming skylab on jimmy carter....

Skylab was another shining moment of glory under this worthless POS

He made those of us Americans living in Thailand lose a lot of face with everything form the Skylab disaster

My main bone of contention with Carter stems from how bad he made America look with the Skylab disaster

The Skylab disaster

you've referenced this several times and placed 'blame' on carter. care to explain boonie?

It happened under his watch.

when Carter was in the White House and the Skylab disaster (among others) ensued, the Thais had a real good laugh at him and America

so, putting aside the diplomatic and military fiascoes in iraq & afghanistan, the ineptitude of the response to hurricane katrina, the lack of stewardship of the economy (which will it be, stagflation or deflation?), and a whole host of other failures....if you're still alive in 30 years (which would put you at over 90 years of age) will you be harping on about this and GWB the way you have previously gone on about carter and skylab?

heh.

[Wallalai]

The U.S. has lost control of a spy satellite

I wish it was the only thing they lost control of. Actually US doesn't seem to control much about anything.

[blackgang]

Ray Carey has mostly lost control of his bowels,,

[Texpat]

"If the satellite is as big as we think it is -- about as big as a school bus -- then parts of it could survive the fiery re-entry and hit the Earth," space analyst Randy Atwood told CTV News.

The Space Shuttle is slightly larger than a school bus. I doubt any "spy" satellite is even half that size (unless you include the flimsy solar array which would burn up within seconds of entering the atmosphere.

Most satellites are about the size of a washing machine. It would be useful to know what kind of "spy" satellite it is.

An anonymous government source told AP that the satellite contains a rocket fuel called hydrazine, which is a toxic chemical and can be harmful to anyone exposed to it.

Well that's pretty unambiguious. Any fuel a "spy" satellite might have would be for orbital correction, miniscule.

More alarmist reporting from who this time? Canada -- Oh.

[raycarey]

More alarmist reporting from who this time? Canada -- Oh.

aren't you the one always crying the blues about the alleged anti-americanism on this board. hypocrite.

anyway, here's a link to one of your preferred sources of propaganda.

FOXNews.com - Dead Spy Satellite Could Hit Earth Within a Month, Officials Say - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum

I doubt any "spy" satellite is even half that size

really?

Pike, director of the defense research group GlobalSecurity.org, estimated that the spacecraft weighs about 20,000 pounds and is the size of a small bus.

now I don't know if this guy spent twenty years in the air force checking tire pressure on jets like you did, but I'll trust his judgement all the same.

[Texpat]

Depending on the size of his small bus is and how accurate his "estimate" is, and how old the satellite is, I'll concede the size of a van.

Jeffrey Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive, said the spacecraft likely is a photo reconnaissance satellite.

They like to stick to the facts, don't they? FOX is crap too, I've always said.

Tire-pressure checker? Nah. Less than two years ago I was involved in buying and building satellites in Los Angeles. Thanks for your interest though.

[raycarey]

FOX is crap too, I've always said.

of course you have.

I was involved in buying and building satellites

involved, eh?

anyway, as much as you want to make this thread about you and your illustrious 20 non flying air force years, this thread is about the falling satellite.

[Texpat]

I don't know if this guy spent twenty years in the air force checking tire pressure on jets like you did ...

Such a short memory, Ray. You brought it up 31 minutes ago, and, as usual, I merely corrected you.

[raycarey]

Such a short memory

huh? i posted that you spent 20 years checking tire pressure and you added that you were somehow involved with something to do with the purchase of a satellite. great. congratulations.

but again, as much as you want it be, this thread isn't about you.
sorry, but it really isn't.

[blackgang]

well Tex, I would just imagine that Ray Baby has went on to explain how important he is to Issues and MilkMan and and what his IQ is and how he knows more than you about any subject that you could bring up, if he hasn't already, he will.

[Boon Mee]

anyway, as much as you want to make this thread about you and your illustrious 20 non flying air force years...

Better than your illustrious TEFLER carreer, eh?
When you gonna turn in your passport there ray?
After all, you post nothing but negative material, eh?

[raycarey]

boonie, boonie, boonie.....

are you really going to dodge the question?

so, putting aside the diplomatic and military fiascoes in iraq & afghanistan, the ineptitude of the response to hurricane katrina, the lack of stewardship of the economy (which will it be, stagflation or deflation?), and a whole host of other failures....if you're still alive in 30 years (which would put you at over 90 years of age) will you be harping on about this and GWB the way you have previously gone on about carter and skylab?

[Boon Mee]

boonie, boonie, boonie.....

are you really going to dodge the question?

so, putting aside the diplomatic and military fiascoes in iraq & afghanistan, the ineptitude of the response to hurricane katrina, the lack of stewardship of the economy (which will it be, stagflation or deflation?), and a whole host of other failures....if you're still alive in 30 years (which would put you at over 90 years of age) will you be harping on about this and GWB the way you have previously gone on about carter and skylab?

Probably...but maybe not since I'll be living in LOS full-time then and a good Buddhist in my wat jai...

[forreachingme]

How is this stuff supposed to reach the ground ?

Thousand of small parts of the size of one small bolt or nut, or more like pieces big the size of on car wheel ?

Each sat different is suppose depending the "shell"...

[Happyman]

Lets get back to the basics!

Satellite f*ucked up
Gonna come down
Reputedly got hazardous material on board

So

When? Where? What ?

Have the owners got third party insurance - not many household and personal policies have a " redundant satellite hitting your house and/ or causing material or personal loss" endorsement !

[Texpat]

Very difficult to determine where space junk will land.

These satellites are just above the Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth were a peach, for example, optical satellites sit on top of the fuzz.

It's orbital plane is far more critical than the approach angle to the atmosphere in determining where it might land. If the satellite is completely dead, it's just a matter of where in it's orbit gravity catches it as it slips closer to Earth.

There are essentially four types of orbits, equatorial, polar, prograde (travelling in the direction the Earth spins) and retrograde (travelling against the spin).

Optical sensing satellites are usually low-Earth geosynchronous which means they cover a lot of ground -- more difficult to peg than the staring variety.

Seventy five percent of the planet is water so a random sample would see 3 out of four not even hit land, assuming it remains relatively intact.

I am for more worried about driving to the market to buy a fish tomorrow.

[oldgit]

And if the fish smells of hydrazine the spy sattelite has come down early

[raycarey]

How is this stuff supposed to reach the ground ? Thousand of small parts of the size of one small bolt or nut, or more like pieces big the size of on car wheel ?

well, according to our resident tire pressure expert, it will

burn up within seconds of entering the atmosphere.

[Texpat]

Indeed, Ray you're learning.

But I was referring to the solar array, a power-production "sail" that is flimsy and light. The bulk of debris, by my calculations, will crash into your living room tomorrow at 22:15 local.




These solar sails are, interestingly, what makes it approximately the size of a small bus. Take those off and it's closer to a washing machine.

[AntRobertson]

The bulk of debris, by my calculations, will crash into your living room tomorrow at 22:15 local.

Oh my aching nostrils! That'll happen when hot tea spurts through them.

[Happyman]

Very difficult to determine where space junk will land.

These satellites are just above the Earth's atmosphere. If the Earth were a peach, for example, optical satellites sit on top of the fuzz.

It's orbital plane is far more critical than the approach angle to the atmosphere in determining where it might land. If the satellite is completely dead, it's just a matter of where in it's orbit gravity catches it as it slips closer to Earth.

There are essentially four types of orbits, equatorial, polar, prograde (travelling in the direction the Earth spins) and retrograde (travelling against the spin).

Optical sensing satellites are usually low-Earth geosynchronous which means they cover a lot of ground -- more difficult to peg than the staring variety.

Seventy five percent of the planet is water so a random sample would see 3 out of four not even hit land, assuming it remains relatively intact.

I am for more worried about driving to the market to buy a fish tomorrow.

Thanks Tex

If the peach analogy is correct( and I don't doubt it!) they are not too far up there!!!

The different orbit types got me "googliing" and bloody hell what a fascinating coupla hours !!
Never too old to learn!

[Boon Mee]

Americans put it up - might as well be on the receiving end when it comes down. eh?

AF General: Spy Satellite Could Hit US

[walrus]

The wiring in these satellites is often gold instead of the usual copper as its a superb conductor so if it survives the reentry and lands relatively intact it wouldn't be a bad find at all !

[Butterfly]

Boon who are you going to blame this time ?

[Texpat]

Roughly 17,000 manmade items have fallen from space. Including many satellites from Russia, EU and US.