US plans to shoot down Satellite

[Woolly One]

I'm sure that this rogue satellite has been posted before, but I couldn't find it.
If so - sorry

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7245578.stm

They say the satellite contains a hazardous material which could be fatal if inhaled by humans.

Gen Cartwright said that exposure to the hydrazine would have similar effects to inhaling chlorine or ammonia - a burning sensation in lungs and, if too close and too much, then possibly death.

This reminded me of the Peru meteor of last year -

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7001897.stm

People who visited the scene have been complaining of headaches, vomiting and nausea after inhaling gases.

I wonder therefore, if the Peru one was actually a satellite, which they weren't too bothered about. If so, why is this one so important?

[Uncle Peter]

Or it's nuclear powered and they don't want reactor fragmets, coolant and fuel raining down from the upper atmosphere. The old Russian Cosmos RORSats used to eject their reactor cores before (controlled) de-orbit but this wouldn't be an option if the satellite was dead.

I hope they don't mistake the rogue one for a good one, we all know what the Americans are like when it comes to identifying friendly and the not so friendly. Sorry but I had to get that one in.

Originally Posted by Uncle Peter

Or it's nuclear powered and they don't want reactor fragmets, coolant and fuel raining down from the upper atmosphere. The old Russian Cosmos RORSats used to eject their reactor cores before (controlled) de-orbit but this wouldn't be an option if the satellite was dead.

From the article
"the likelihood that the satellite upon descent to the Earth's surface could release much of its 1,000lb plus (454 kg) of its hydrazine fuel as a toxic gas..
....If the hydrazine tank did burst, the danger zone would be an area covering the size of two football pitches. He said that blowing the satellite up would disperse the hydrazine harmlessly in space, leaving only small-scale satellite debris to fall harmlessly to Earth."

[Uncle Peter]

Cue further consipiracy theories anyway: secret NSA satellite dies, several people accused of spying for China are arrested.

[WHISTLED]

Im no genius but I would have though rocket fuel would burn up during re-entry

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by WHISTLED

Im no genius but I would have though rocket fuel would burn up during re-entry

Well if the tanks remain intact there must be a chance that some of the fuel will rain down from the upper atmosphere. I'm not convinced that this is their primary motivation for wanting to shoot the thing down though. Since when did the US security apparatus start becoming concerned about the welfare of other human beings?

[dilli-theclaw]

just make sure you don't watch it breaking up, could make you go blind especially if its bright green.

[Taf]

Evntually there'll be so much space debris in orbit that it'll be the end of space travel.... as launched craft could not penetrate the "shield".

[BBKing]

BS on the hydrazine, if you're worried about it being that dangerous then don't throw it up there. It's either to show how l33t their anti-satellite capability is to the Chinese or Russians or more probably to make damn sure no bits of satellite end up in those countries.

[Uncle Peter]

Well if you want to watch it before it breaks up, next opportunity will be around the middle to end of next week. Not sure if it's bright green or not (yet ). The Lacrosse radar recon sats which must be around the same size as this thing are reddish.

This guy's satobs imaging work is astounding. I wonder if he'll get any footage of USA193 before "The Man" gets him

http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/.../lacrosse.html

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Nidge

I hope they don't mistake the rogue one for a good one, we all know what the Americans are like when it comes to identifying friendly and the not so friendly.

Looks like Virgin might get the better of SKY after all

[Hom3r]

Placing bets that they shoot down the International Space Station

[Uncle Peter]

Originally Posted by BBKing

BS on the hydrazine, if you're worried about it being that dangerous then don't throw it up there. It's either to show how l33t their anti-satellite capability is to the Chinese or Russians or more probably to make damn sure no bits of satellite end up in those countries.

Nah sod it just outsource the destruction of the satelllite to the Chinese.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Has anyone told Sir Richard, so that he can get on it, and direct it to earth, then we could have VM by satellitte.- he can then do battle with Sky boom,boom.