Falling Satellite!

Stories

16 Stories

February 2009
- Time to Clean Up Space Trash
  
  Economist | Feb 22, 09 5:16 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Space trash is becoming a serious problem, and it's long past time for housekeeping, writes the Economist . Of the 18,000 objects orbiting earth that are bigger than 4 inches across, only 900 are functioning satellites. The rest is debris, from old rocket parts and dead satellites to tools and gloves dropped by astronauts, and it poses a mounting risk to satellites crucial to communications. More »
- Satellite Debris Rains Down on Southwest: FAA
  
  Space.com | Feb 15, 09 6:21 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Fireballs streaking across Kentucky, Texas, and New Mexico are likely debris from two satellites that collided last week, Space.com reports. Since Friday, residents have been calling police and weather offices reporting loud blasts that FAA officials are attributing to debris entering the atmosphere. The FAA also warned airplane pilots to watch for falling satellite parts. More »
March 2008
- Russian Rocket Fails to Put US Satellite in Orbit
  
  Associated Press | Mar 16, 08 3:15 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A Russian rocket was unable to launch a US telecommunications satellite into its designated orbit yesterday, the AP reports. The rocket fell 5,000 miles short of its goal of 22,400 miles when the rocket's second booster turned off too early. The satellite could have reached its destination on its own propulsion system, but such a move would leave the spacecraft low on fuel for future maneuvers, reports the BBC. More »
February 2008
- Satellite Shot Destroyed Toxic Fuel
  
  Associated Press | Feb 25, 08 12:10 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The missile fired at the errant spy satellite on Wednesday succeeded in destroying a tank full of toxic fuel, the Defense Department has concluded after analyzing the debris from the shootdown. The tank was said to have held 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine, which could have been released into the atmosphere as the satellite fell to Earth, the AP reports. "By all accounts this was a successful mission," Gen. James Cartwright said today. More »
- Questions Trail After Satellite
  
  New York Times | Feb 22, 08 11:59 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The US Navy's destruction of a spy satellite on Wednesday continues to stir doubts both domestically and internationally, reports the New York Times. China issued an explicit warning yesterday, and Russia has raised questions. “The geopolitical fallout of this intercept could be far greater than any chemical fallout that would have resulted from the wayward satellite,” said House Homeland Security Committee member Edward Markey. More »
- Navy Hits Errant Satellite
  
  Associated Press | Feb 20, 08 9:55 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Navy tonight struck an errant spy satellite with its first missile shot, the AP reports. A ship in the Pacific hit the satellite as it passed about 130 miles above the ocean. The military says it needed to destroy the satellite before it crashed to Earth because the toxic fuel aboard posed a risk. It will take a day or two to confirm that the fuel tank was destroyed, the AP notes. More »
- Navy Prepares to Fire on Satellite Tonight
  
  CNN | Feb 20, 08 4:00 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The US Navy has warned planes and ships away from a large area of the Pacific ahead of an attempt to shoot down a rogue spy satellite carrying toxic fuel tonight, CNN reports. The space shuttle Atlantis is due back on Earth today and military officials are waiting for its safe return before trying to blast the malfunctioning spy satellite into harmless debris. More »
- Navy Ship Prepares to Shoot Down Spy Satellite
  
  CNN | Feb 19, 08 3:48 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The US Navy will attempt to shoot down a rogue American spy satellite Thursday, just days before it re-enters the earth's atmosphere, reports CNN. Officials plan to bring down the satellite from an Aegis cruiser at sea while it is still 150 miles above the earth, leaving enough time for a second attempt if the first one fails. More »
- Satellite Shootdown May Cost $60M
  
  CNN | Feb 16, 08 11:51 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Navy's attempt to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite will cost up to $60 million, CNN reports. Three Navy ships are preparing for the mission, which could take place next week, but only after the space shuttle Atlantis returns. The Navy hopes to destroy the satellite, which has half a ton of toxic fuel aboard, before it crashes to Earth in the next few weeks. More »
- US to Shoot Down Dead Satellite
  
  Associated Press | Feb 14, 08 12:03 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - The Pentagon is planning to shoot down a malfunctioning spy satellite in orbit, the AP reports, rather than run the risk of it crashing to Earth—and possibly into unfriendly hands. The powerless satellite is currently expected to hit somewhere on Earth the first week of March; the US would fire modified missiles at it from ships off Hawaii before then. More »
- Falling Radar Satellite Adds to NRO Troubles
  
  Aviation Week | Feb 3, 08
  
  t started out as a 10-ton satellite packed with hazardous materials plummeting towards Earth. Then it dropped down to 4 tons, and the materials turned out not to be hazardous. Details are still sketchy, but it now seems clear that the NROL-21 USA-193 satellite that failed just hours after its December 2006 launch is now on its way back down to Earth. Should we be worried?
January 2008
- Falling Spy Satellite May Hit North America
  
  Associated Press | Jan 30, 08 11:38 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - A defunct and out-of-control spy satellite is falling to Earth, and could scatter debris somewhere in North America in late February or early March, the AP reports. The Air Force says the satellite called US 193, whose central computer failed shortly after its launch in 2006, is big enough that it probably won't all burn up on reentry, and some pieces will hit the ground. But they aren't a security issue, the head of US Northern Command tells the AP. More »
- U.S. Plans for Falling Satellite
  
  Associated Press | Jan 30, 08
  
  The U.S. military is developing contingency plans to deal with the possibility that a large spy satellite expected to fall to Earth in late February or early March could hit North America.
- Falling Satellite Probably Not a Danger
  
  Popular Science | Jan 29, 08
  
  t started out as a 10-ton satellite packed with hazardous materials plummeting towards Earth. Then it dropped down to 4 tons, and the materials turned out not to be hazardous. Details are still sketchy, but it now seems clear that the NROL-21 USA-193 satellite that failed just hours after its December 2006 launch is now on its way back down to Earth. Should we be worried?
- Old Spy Satellite Falling to Earth
  
  Associated Press | Jan 26, 08 8:27 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - A dead US spy satellite will likely tumble out of space and hit Earth late next month or early March, the AP reports. Unnamed officials admitted it may contain toxic material but refused to say where it might land or whether it could be shot from the sky. "We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause," said a National Security Council rep. More »
October 2007
- After Sputnik: Satellites Today
  
  Wired | Oct 4, 07 4:47 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Satellites have lost a bit of their star power since Sputnik blasted into orbit. But 50 years later, its grandkids continue to look down at the Earth and out into deep, deep space. Here are some of the coolest, according to Wired : James Webb Space Telescope: Putting the Hubble to pasture, this planned telescope will monitor the infrared spectrum to detect new planets. Envisat: Making Al Gore proud, this environmental lab monitors sea-ice coverage and changes to glaciers. More »