6.5-Ton Defunct Satellite to Plunge to Earth Soon, NASA Warns

[super jumbe]

Heads up! That's the word from NASA given the impending re-entry of a 6.5-ton satellite through Earth's atmosphere.


The huge Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled fall in late September or early October. Much of the spacecraft is expected to burn up during re-entry, but some pieces are expected to make it intact to the ground, NASA officials said.


The satellite launched to Earth orbit in 1991 aboard NASA's space shuttle Discovery and was decommissioned on Dec. 14, 2005. It is 35 feet (10.7 meters) long and 15 feet (4.5 m) wide.


According to NASA, on UARS re-entry day, "if you find something you think may be a piece of UARS, do not touch it. Contact a local law enforcement official for assistance."


The actual date of re-entry is difficult to predict because it depends on solar flux and the spacecraft's orientation as its orbit decays. As re-entry draws closer, predictions on the date will become more reliable.



As long as debris will avoid DK forum office who cares the rest.

[super jumbe]

Heads down?..
What goes up will come down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shady]

can i pick up the premiership on it with a zone 2 dish??

[GastonJ]

Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite >>> (UARS) <<<

very aptly named
I remember Skylab falling in the 70's fell over Australia and Canada if I recall correctly. Wasn't much fun for them, luckily it hit parts that weren't populated.

From memory they have used small reactors in the past to power these things, should glow well i the dark.

[Meat-Head]

BAGSY first dibs on the scrap metal, and the solar cells.

there is a rumor going around that the Chinaese had a satalite (no idea if was a clone), they no longer loved it long time, so instead of putting it at the side of orbit and let some gypo take it for scrap, they blew it up, which now means for ever more there millions of bits if destryoed satalite floating in space, so if your tv goes off, could be because tiny bit of junk has wacked the satalite you and your polish naybours are watching

[GastonJ]

BAGSY first dibs on the scrap metal, and the solar cells.

there is a rumor going around that the Chinaese had a satalite (no idea if was a clone), they no longer loved it long time, so instead of putting it at the side of orbit and let some gypo take it for scrap, they blew it up, which now means for ever more there millions of bits if destryoed satalite floating in space, so if your tv goes off, could be because tiny bit of junk has wacked the satalite you and your polish naybours are watching

I think it's more than rumour. The Americans did the same with one of their satellites a few years back. They say there's 22,000 pieces of junk greater than 1cm up there just spinning round waiting to hit.

I don't recall any debris knocking out a TV satellite, the only thing that I remember is solar flares have got a few before, but generally knock out the odd transponder. Maybe you could go fix them for your normal call out fee

[super jumbe]

There are rumours that some particles are loaded with pure gold and if you got hold of that inform the Authorities????

I hope Mead Head motors are not in the vicinity of scrap and gold collections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheCoder]

There are rumours that some particles are loaded with pure gold and if you got hold of that inform the Authorities***8230;***8230;***8230;***8230;

I hope Mead Head motors are not in the vicinity of scrap and gold collections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Some small pieces of some early satellites were made from Gold (it has some unique properties) but it was very small amounts and usually an exceedingly thin coating (a few microns thiick). Other materials have generally been used since the 1970's although there is often still gold used in circuit plating.

The main reasons they dont want you to touch is mostly down to possible contamination from either a nasty chemical called Hydrazine (used in propulsion) or radioactive contamination from the thermoelectric generator unit (generates power by using the heat from radioactive element decay - mostly plutonium238)

[Grizz]

i know a couple a lads down in Rathkeale will give you 150 pound for that satellite. they'll throw in a dag.

[Canker_Canison]

There's no way I'd be calling the police if I found some of it.

It would be taking pride of place in my display cabinet, until my hair fell out & my gums bleed

[Meat-Head]

i know a couple a lads down in Rathkeale will give you 150 pound for that satellite. they'll throw in a dag.

Worth more than that, 6.5 ton - BIG lorry ish size

There's no way I'd be calling the police if I found some of it.

It would be taking pride of place in my display cabinet, until my hair fell out & my gums bleed

Guy from Meat-City-College - now behind bars for something - has/had a small glass 'bottle' full of chemicals, he found it walking in Yorksire, he has a letter saying (have seen both with own eyes)

Dear Sir

For ~~~~s sake, take to the nearset pig shop, do not lob it at them

Yours

Somebody VERY Important

[Grizz]

Worth more than that, 6.5 ton - BIG lorry ish size

yeah, but they 'll throw in a dag



edit
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2a_ATxfEuLU"]Dags - YouTube[/ame]

[Meat-Head]

yeah, but they 'll throw in a dag



edit
Dags - YouTube

HUH, a dawg, some of them things that smells foul