U.s./ Ussr Satellites Collide In Space

[Christina]

U.S. and Russian satellites collide sending a cloud of hazardous debris hurtling around Earth at 25,000mphBy David DerbyshireLast updated at 9:37 PM on 12th February 2009Two satellites have collided in space 500 miles above Siberia. A U.S. communications satellite crashed into a defunct Russian military probe at speeds of at least 15,000mph, Nasa said. Both craft, which were in an orbit used heavily by spacecraft, smashed into tiny pieces in Tuesday's collision. This created a cloud of debris that threatens other spacecraft, including the manned International Space Station. more and pics: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/art...25-000mph.html#Another story on this with animated crash COLLIDING SATELLITES: Experts are calling it an "unprecedented event." Two satellites have collided in Earth orbit. Iridium 33 crashed into Kosmos 2251 on Tuesday, Feb. 10th, approximately 800 km over northern Siberia. Click on the image to launch a 2.3 MB animation of the collision: Still images are also available: #1, #2 ... http://spaceweather3.com/Both satellites were completely destroyed. The expanding cloud of debris contains more than 500 fragments, substantially increasing the debris population at altitudes near 800 km. According to NASA, the International Space Station orbiting 350 km above Earth is in no immediate danger from the much higher-altitude debris.The US Air Force Space Surveillance Radar in Texas reportedly detected echoes from the debris cloud when it passed over the facility on Feb. 11th. Spaceweather.com is streaming live audio from the radar, and it might be possible to hear echoes the next time debris passes overhead. Try listening on Thursday, Feb. 12th, between 10:56 pm and 11:07 pm CST (0456 - 0507 UT on Feb. 13th). That's when Iridium 33 would have passed over the radar intact had the satellite not been shattered. UPDATE: Rumors are circulating that the debris is radioactive. Not true. These satellites were not nuclear powered.http://spaceweather3.com/

 

[Christina]

Watch your heads................................. FDC 9/5774 FDC .. SPECIAL NOTICE .. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. AIRCRAFT ARE ADVISED THAT A POTENTIAL HAZARD MAY OCCUR DUE TO REENTRY OF SATELLITE DEBRIS INTO THE EARTHS ATMOSPHERE. FURTHER NOTAMS WILL BE ISSUED IF MORE INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN THE INTEREST OF FLIGHT SAFETY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL PILOTS/FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS REPORT ANY OBSERVED FALLING SPACE DEBRIS TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC FACILITY TO INCLUDE POSITION, ALTITUDE, TIME, AND DIRECTION OF DEBRIS OBSERVED. FAA HEADQUARTERS, AIR TRAFFIC SYSTEMS OPERATIONS SECURITY============================PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENTNATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSON KY1145 PM EST FRI FEB 13 2009...POSSIBLE SATELLITE DEBRIS FALLING ACROSS THE REGION...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN JACKSON HAS RECEIVED CALLS THISEVENING FROM THE PUBLIC CONCERNING POSSIBLE EXPLOSIONS AND...OREARTHQUAKES ACROSS THE AREA. THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION HASREPORTED TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT THESE EVENTS ARE BEING CAUSEDBY FALLING SATELLITE DEBRIS. THESE PIECES OF DEBRIS HAVE BEEN CAUSINGSONIC BOOMS...RESULTING IN THE VIBRATIONS BEING FELT BY SOMERESIDENTS...AS WELL AS FLASHES OF LIGHT ACROSS THE SKY.