Posted: 1/30/2002 8:31:36 AM EDT
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Be sure to take your titanium umbrella to work today. [url]http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/space/01/29/satellite.fall/index.html[/url] |
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It seems that the reporter knows nothing about what he is reporting on. [b]"It is expected to begin disintegrating when it descends to within 50 miles (80 km) of the surface, then re-enter the atmosphere approximately seven hours later."[/b] Exactly what is the satellite supposed to disentigrate from if it hasn't entered the atmosphere? The atmosphere stretches for far more than 50 miles out. It takes 7 hours to fall from 50 miles to the atmosphere? This just makes no sense. Sort of like a .22 LR sniper rifle, deadly accurate to 1.5 miles. |
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There are lots of possibilities. Orbits are all elliptical, a circular (constant altitude) orbit being one special case of an ellipse. A sattelite could easily dip into the atmosphere and out again, losing energy each time before it makes the final plunge. Guarantee the first dip into significant air will tear up solar panels & antennae. The reporter is most likely an ignorant slut, but could well be right by accident. Most of them just repeat press releases, anyway. |
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Quoted: There are lots of possibilities. I suppose, I hadn't thought of that. Still it seems that 50 miles is awful deep in the atmosphere. The craft would have to be travelling pretty fast to penetrate that deep, and then make one more 1/2 orbit. If it were, then the long part of the elipse would take longer than 7 hours. I used to have some software that could model this for me. I don't have it with me, but it seems wrong for some reason. The g's would be too high, the original orbit would be too eliptical. If the report had said 100 miles, I could have lived with that. |
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Nevertheless, an estimated nine steel or titanium pieces could survive re-entry, ranging from four pounds to 100 pounds (1.8 kg to 45 kg). 9 pieces over the area of the earth, slim chance being hit by a piece. Then if it does enter around Florida, it's got a high chance of hitting only old people. [:D] |
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Then if it does enter around Florida, it's got a high chance of hitting only old people. If it hits Taxxachusetts, there's a good chance only liberals will be harmed. If it hits over Canada, will anyone notice? If it hits over Washington, will the Democrats blame the Republicans, and vice-versa? If it hits over the middle east, will anyone care? OK, I'll stop now.z |