Spy Satellite to Hit Earth by late February to March |
Spy Satellite to Hit Earth by late February to March |
Guest_Bobby_* |
Jan 27 2008, 04:47 AM
Post
#1
|
Guests |
Just read at MSNBC that a large U.S. spy satellite will hit Earth by the end of February or early March.
Better keep our hard hats ready??? Here is the article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22857051/ |
|
|
Feb 19 2008, 11:10 AM
Post
#2
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 877 Joined: 7-March 05 From: Switzerland Member No.: 186 |
http://spaceweather.com/ (19. Feb) reports that rumor has it that the US Navy may make its first attempt to hit USA 193 this Wednesday evening as the satellite passes over the Pacific Ocean. Because of Ted Molczan has drawn attention to a NOTAM issued by the US Government that might point to a possible ASAT attempt on USA 193 on Feb 21, between 2:30 and 5:00 UTC.
If they hit exactly the tank with the hydrazine, at that great combined speed, I would think the missile (without a warhead) penetrates the tank and maybe other parts entirely without larger impact on the orbit of the rest of the satellite. -------------------- |
|
|
Feb 19 2008, 04:28 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
If they hit exactly the tank with the hydrazine, at that great combined speed, I would think the missile (without a warhead) penetrates the tank and maybe other parts entirely without larger impact on the orbit of the rest of the satellite. As we all know it's all about mass and velocity. If that impactor arcs up and strikes the satellite at a high velocity opposite to the direction of travel then it will indeed impact the orbit of the doomed satellite. I suspect that this is part of the plan, or if not it has been calculated for. Not knowing the impactor mass and it's expected impact velocity it would be difficult for us to even pencil it out here, but the orbital effect will be significant (with a small number on the mass side of the equation, but a very large multiplier on the velocity side.) -------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
|
|
|
Feb 19 2008, 06:45 PM
Post
#4
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 321 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Cape Canaveral Member No.: 734 |
As we all know it's all about mass and velocity. If that impactor arcs up and strikes the satellite at a high velocity opposite to the direction of travel then it will indeed impact the orbit of the doomed satellite. I suspect that this is part of the plan, or if not it has been calculated for. Not knowing the impactor mass and it's expected impact velocity it would be difficult for us to even pencil it out here, but the orbital effect will be significant (with a small number on the mass side of the equation, but a very large multiplier on the velocity side.) The impactor's velocity is not really part of the "equation", it could be zero. The bulk of the energy is from the satellite. The velocity differences are on the order of several km/sec. The impactor just has to get in the path of the satellite at the right time. Sort of like throwing up a baseball glove to knock down a fly ball. |
|
|
Feb 19 2008, 08:42 PM
Post
#5
|
|
Senior Member Group: Admin Posts: 4763 Joined: 15-March 05 From: Glendale, AZ Member No.: 197 |
I get your point, but come on now there is no such thing as a zero velocity except with respect to another body. If the velocity is zero with respect to the satellite then there will be no damage (and no impact for that matter). Even if the impactor is moving in the same direction of travel, albeit slower, its momentum must be factored in to the final momentum of the system after the impact. And in every instance I can imagine, the result will be greater decay in the orbit of the satellite and it's fragments.
-------------------- If Occam had heard my theory, things would be very different now.
|
|
|
Feb 20 2008, 12:49 AM
Post
#6
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 321 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Cape Canaveral Member No.: 734 |
I get your point, but come on now there is no such thing as a zero velocity except with respect to another body. If the velocity is zero with respect to the satellite then there will be no damage (and no impact for that matter). Didn't say with respect to the satellite , I was referring with respect to the earth (basically hovering) |
|
|
Feb 21 2008, 11:57 PM
Post
#7
|
|
Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
Didn't say with respect to the satellite , I was referring with respect to the earth (basically hovering) Not really...you were saying that the impactor's speed was irrelevant. With such a narrow margin (in other words, such a small, fast-moving target), nothing is irrelevant. Curt little defenses are your prerogative, but you were still wrong nonetheless. -------------------- |
|
|
Feb 22 2008, 01:53 AM
Post
#8
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 321 Joined: 6-April 06 From: Cape Canaveral Member No.: 734 |
Not really...you were saying that the impactor's speed was irrelevant. With such a narrow margin (in other words, such a small, fast-moving target), nothing is irrelevant. Curt little defenses are your prerogative, but you were still wrong nonetheless. Huh? I disagree and rightly so. The destruct mechanism is the satellites velocity. The warhead only has to be fast enough to get in the way at the right time. The warhead's velocity (magnitude and direct) contribution to the destruction IS irrelevant |
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 15th June 2024 - 10:27 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |