Posted on 03/26/2018 9:01:33 PM PDT by BenLurkin
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques(Fraunhofer FHR) are monitoring the 8.5-ton (7.7 metric tons) space station module using a tracking and imaging radar system, which they say is one of the most powerful such radars worldwide. Their observations help inform forecasts from the European Space Agency (ESA) and the German Space Situational Awareness Center.
Tiangong-1 was traveling at about 18,000 mph (29,000 km/h) in an orbit nearly 168 miles (270 kilometers) above Earth when the radar images were acquired, according to Fraunhofer FHR. Researchers are also watching the rotation of the station, under a commission from ESA. The rotation is one of the factors in determining when the space station will hit Earth. Tiangong-1 is expected to fall somewhere under its orbital inclination (between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south latitudes), and some pieces of the space station will make it to the surface.
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The institute's tracking and imaging radar system uses signals in the Ku-band and I-band radio frequencies to track Tiangong-1. Radar allows the institute to watch the station regardless of the weather, or if it is day or night.
"By precisely determining the orbital data of Tiangong-1 until it re-enters at the end of March/beginning of April 2018, FHR offers the German Space Situational Awareness Center valuable support in forecasting the time and place of re-entry," Fraunhofer FHR representatives said in the statement. "Regular checks are also carried out to establish whether or not Tiangong-1 is still fully intact."
The shape of China's falling space station Tiangong-1 can be seen in this radar image from the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques near Bonn, Germany. Launched in 2011, Tiangong-1 is about the size of a school bus. Its solar arrays are clearly visible.
Credit: Fraunhofer FHR
*ping*
Magnificent technology!
the imaging technology, or the thing falling out of the sky?
Wonder if you can sue China if it lands on your house or maybe send them a box of cookies if it lands on the senate.
168 miles isn’t that low. Is it in a very elliptical orbit?
Both, in their own way.
Thanks fieldmarshaldj. As soon as it crashes, all the doors will fly open, a bunch of Taikonauts will rush out aimlessly, jabbering something, with their arms up over their heads, then they'll run back in the same doors they used to exit, and the whole station will just bounce right back up into orbit.
Watch the skies. Everywhere. Keep watching the skies!
I saw a satellite fall from the sky once. It was night, and it looked like an orange ball going from west to east. I thought it was a UFO, then the newspaper said the next morning that it was a Russian satellite that crashed in Montana. It was only about the size of a suitcase. Imagine what this one will look like. It will probably be over the ocean, however.
That map has it going directly above my house. Operative word: above.
For those about to be obliterated, we salute you!
Yes, but it were a Japanese space station, they’d come running out with camera’s in hand. With a single leader in front, waving a flag before escorting them back into the school bus (er, spacecraft. ) 8<)
If it was Japenese and they would jumped out of the satellite with cameras, it would land in Yellowstone National Park. Then they would take pictures get bumped by buffalo. Invade the gift shop, get moose bumped then take off for Disney land. Singing I got my weekend on.
The imaging. Think about the challenge of doing that with an optical telescope on the ground...
The Chinese crashed a satellite into my house once.
Once.
Wow, it’s already burning up!
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