This low earth orbit shrapnel traveling at 17,500 mph or 9 times faster than a 50 caliber bullet is only expected to stay in orbit about 3 years before it drops back to the ground. Each one weighs approximately 600 pounds. There are currently 1,300 circling the earth but the plan is for around 7,500. Does anyone have any idea how much destructive force a 600 pound object traveling 9 times the speed of a 50 caliber bullet has. If something goes haywire on the reentry routine there could be some pretty big problems. And no they are not going to burn up in the atmosphere like most meteors.
These sats are not bullet shaped and at 600lbs is gonna burn up. Now if we were talking 600 tons; that would be different.
Nothing. They are designed to completely burn up upon re-entry in the atmosphere.
Australian guy grabs shot gun for another Mir photo shoot.
Sounds like a potential for REAL “Langoliers” to slice and dice. Yikes.