Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

NASA say defunct satellite due to plunge to earth

  • 08-09-2011 1:03pm
    #1
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭


    Hi, not sure if you all heard, or are interested ;)

    NASA are due to hold a press conference this friday to discuss the impending reentry of UARS satellite.

    Some pieces are expected to hit the ground.


    The satellite's current orbit is 155 by 174 miles (250 by 280 kilometers), with an inclination of 57 degrees. That means the satellite could come down anywhere between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south. NASA estimated that the debris footprint would stretch about 500 miles

    some info here:

    http://www.space.com/12859-nasa-satellite-falling-space-debris-uars.html
    Tagged:


«13456

Comments

  • #2
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    people have been asked not to touch any pieces they may come across, but to instead contact local law enforcement.


  • #3
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    heres another link with some info onit, just for you Beeker, since everyone else here is too cool to be interested ;):p

    https://sites.google.com/site/uarsreentry/home


  • #4
    Beeker
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beeker


    Jake1 wrote: »
    heres another link with some info onit, just for you Beeker, since everyone else here is too cool to be interested ;):p

    https://sites.google.com/site/uarsreentry/home

    Ah yeah, if its in space I'm interested my friend!:)


  • #5
    Beeker
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 3,643 Mod ✭✭✭✭Beeker


    The satellite is the UARS Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, launched by the Shuttle on Flight STS-48 in 1991.


    666pxsts48patch.png


  • #6
    ODubhain82
    Registered Users Posts: 147 ✭✭ODubhain82


    Finders keepers?


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    ger vallely
    Registered Users Posts: 766 ✭✭✭ger vallely


    Some good links on there,interesting,thanks!


  • #8
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    ODubhain82 wrote: »
    Finders keepers?

    thing is, you wouldnt want to touch it, highly toxic, from what I hear.

    :) check out this link

    http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/11040.htm


  • #9
    jumpjack
    Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭jumpjack


    Follow it on Heavnes-Above.com:
    http://heavens-above.com/satinfo.aspx?lat=0&lng=0&alt=0&loc=Unspecified&TZ=CET&SatID=21701


  • #10
    Rubecula
    Registered Users Posts: 8,551 ✭✭✭Rubecula


    Any precious metals in it?

    *Digs out his gardening gloves and fishing net on a stick*


  • #11
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,815 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    Jake1 wrote: »
    thing is, you wouldnt want to touch it, highly toxic, from what I hear.

    :) check out this link

    http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/11040.htm

    Oh the old "it's dangerous" trick :p

    Bet that bits of it end up on ebay or fake bits !


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 6,025 ✭✭✭[Deleted User]


    Discodog wrote: »
    Oh the old "it's dangerous" trick :p

    Bet that bits of it end up on ebay or fake bits !

    would certainly be very tempting to keep a bit :)

    :o


  • #13
    Seanie M
    Registered Users Posts: 1,795 ✭✭✭Seanie M


    I call dibs! :P


  • #14
    John mac
    Registered Users Posts: 5,105 ✭✭✭John mac


    If any of it lands near me i'm keeping it. :)

    Nasa latest


  • #15
    Cork boy 55
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,324 ✭✭✭Cork boy 55


    Chinese have a satellite killer machine

    on the downside it creates huge amount of space junk after the KILL


  • #16
    Captain Chaos
    Registered Users Posts: 11,174 ✭✭✭✭Captain Chaos


    Cork boy 55 wrote: »
    Chinese have a satellite killer machine

    on the downside it creates huge amount of space junk after the KILL

    So do the US but they don't want to use it for that very reason. They have been intercepting satellites in tests in the '80s using special missiles on a modified F-15 from a zoom climb.

    Today they can use a variant of the SM6 missile that's loaded on all USN cruisers and destroyers.


  • #17
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,815 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    John mac wrote: »
    If any of it lands near me i'm keeping it. :)

    Nasa latest

    You might have no choice if it lands on your house :D


  • #18
    Sponge Bob
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 25,234 ✭✭✭✭Sponge Bob


    It will be passing near Ireland on sat and sun and after that we will never see it again.


  • #19
    NoQuarter
    Registered Users Posts: 4,632 ✭✭✭NoQuarter


    Sponge Bob wrote: »
    It will be passing near Ireland on sat and sun and after that we will never see it again.

    Thats quite the calculation you have done there.


  • #20
    jumpjack
    Registered Users Posts: 131 ✭✭jumpjack


    The biggest part falling down will weight around 120 kg; all parts together will weight around 500 kg:
    http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/585584main_UARS_Status.pdf

    You have 1/3200 chance of being hit by one.


  • #21
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Can I sue NASA for billions if it hits my place?


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,815 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    NoQuarter wrote: »
    Thats quite the calculation you have done there.

    Don't underestimate Bob - he's now on his way to collect the pieces :D
    jumpjack wrote: »
    The biggest part falling down will weight around 120 kg; all parts together will weight around 500 kg:
    http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/585584main_UARS_Status.pdf

    You have 1/3200 chance of being hit by one.

    So 120kg falling at terminal velocity - that's some crater :eek:

    Joking apart it will probably hit the sea & no one will be hurt but there could be huge repercussions if it hit a populated area especially one that is not US friendly - so about 80% of the World !


  • #23
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users Posts: 22,743 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    jumpjack wrote: »
    You have 1/3200 chance of being hit by one.
    No. There is a 1/3200 chance that it a piece will hit someone. There's a big difference.


  • #24
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,815 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    Maybe we need to all spread out to avoid the risk :D

    It could be a great way to target an enemy like Iran's nuclear reactor - but there was nothing we could do it was an act of God !


  • #25
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users Posts: 22,743 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    Discodog wrote: »
    It could be a great way to target an enemy like Iran's nuclear reactor...
    [off-topic]
    Iran are Ireland's enemy?
    News to me.
    [/off-topic]


  • #26
    Discodog
    Registered Users Posts: 15,815 ✭✭✭✭Discodog


    The Hill Billy wrote: »
    [off-topic]
    Iran are Ireland's enemy?
    News to me.
    [/off-topic]

    It's not Ireland's satellite so if it could be targeted it might be towards a perceived enemy of it's maker.


  • #27
    The Hill Billy
    Registered Users Posts: 22,743 ✭✭✭✭The Hill Billy


    Ah, gotcha!

    To self: Doh! :)


  • #28
    Daniel S
    Registered Users Posts: 3,525 ✭✭✭Daniel S


    Jake1 wrote: »
    people have been asked not to touch any pieces they may come across, but to instead contact local law enforcement.

    Yea, could be radioactive :rolleyes:
    The Hill Billy wrote: »
    No. There is a 1/3200 chance that it a piece will hit someone. There's a big difference.

    It's one in 3200 chance that someone will be hit, and 1 it 27 trillion that you will be hit.
    The Hill Billy wrote: »
    [off-topic]
    Iran are Ireland's enemy?
    News to me.
    [/off-topic]

    Yea, they don't like us as we're one of the American neutral countries... :pac:


  • #29
    BULLER
    Registered Users Posts: 339 ✭✭BULLER


    The Hill Billy wrote: »
    [off-topic]
    Iran are Ireland's enemy?
    News to me.
    [/off-topic]

    No, of course not! We're bezzie mates with them and North Korea. Great buncha lads...

    Think this deserves some highlighting: 1 in 27 trillion that you will be hit.


  • #30
    Daniel S
    Registered Users Posts: 3,525 ✭✭✭Daniel S


    BULLER wrote: »
    No, of course not! We're bezzie mates with them and North Korea. Great buncha lads...

    Think this deserves some highlighting: 1 in 27 trillion that you will be hit.
    Sure Kim Il-sung's family are decendants of the Il-sung's of Leitrim.


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    markfla
    Registered Users Posts: 335 ✭✭markfla


    This is actual footage of the satellite over France, impressive footage.



Advertisement