Defunct Spy Satellite Falling From Orbit

Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | January 26, 2007

[Calvin Locke]

One of the end-of-life proposals is for the satellite to spool out a drag line towards Earth, creating, surprise, drag, to drop the satellite into the atmosphere...

The shuttle, for instance, only slows down a couple or three hundred mph from its orbital speed to begin its descent. That's what, 1 or 2 percent of its velocity?

[Diogenesis]

NORAD public catalog of Chinese ASAT debris in red. All LEO satellites in NORAD public catalog in green.
The Chinese deliberate debris in LEO orbit will last for centuries.

[Greysard]

The Russians track, or used to track all launches.

Every nation that launches its own spacecraft must know where all the objects are in orbit, regardless of their origin, or else you might accidentally launch into the orbit that is occupied by some junk (or, even worse, not junk.)

[null and void]

But I will tell you that they can predict relatively certainly where, when and how it will come down.

I rather doubt that.

[woofie]

The Chinese deliberate debris in LEO orbit will last for centuries.

Can you explain that to an English speaking semiintelligent but uninformed guy?

[Ruddles]

It’s a decoy, completely under control, designed to mimic an out-of-control spy satellite, in order to flush out hostile interdiction and recovery capabilities

[Calvin Locke]

Generally, PU-238 is used, as far as NASA is concerned.

What the NSA/Pentagon uses, I don't know.

The Russians have used Strontium-90 for RTGs, even for remote Earth locations that are frequently the target of vandals...

[CindyDawg]

If it lands in my back yard....can I keep it?

[null and void]

Not bad!

I’d like to add that as an Intel bird, it is probably in a polar orbit.

That means we can’t even confine our guesses to the lower latitudes.

[Sacajaweau]

And why won’t this thing burn up when it re-enters?

[bannie]

This speaker’s classification is misplaced.

[Shady]

Wait wait wait wait JUST a minute - I’ve figured this out. Now the ACLU-Commie-Lib-Lawyer Association will SUE to keep all future spy satellite launches from happening!

How I hate the Left.

[RightWhale]

They never do. They burn but not burn up.

[cinives]

Cool photo

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

[missnry]

Just between you and me... I won't tell anyone.
Signed Connie C ;>

[KenHorse]

But I will tell you that they can predict relatively certainly where, when and how it will come down.

I rather doubt that.

Orbital mechanics are pretty much an exact science. And while the satellite's final coordinates can't be calculated to the Nth degree, it is certain "those in the know" know within a few hundred miles where it will come down.....

[LibWhacker]

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!

[ReformedBeckite]

Somebody refresh my memory about what the word "secret" means...

Secret is something that only those above Cook status should know about. Top Secret is for those that never goto the mess hall.

[null and void]

And why won’t this thing burn up when it re-enters?

Most of it will. Some of the larger structural parts will make it to earth.

Unfortunately, this could include any isotope driven power generators.

Or a toilet seat... < /"Dead Like Me" reference>