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See China's Falling Space Station in These Radar Images
Space.com ^ | March 26, 2018 04:42pm ET | By Elizabeth Howell,

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.

...

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."


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: china; tiangong1
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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

1 posted on 03/26/2018 9:01:33 PM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: SunkenCiv

*ping*


2 posted on 03/26/2018 9:14:17 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj ("It's Slappin' Time !")
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To: BenLurkin

Magnificent technology!


3 posted on 03/26/2018 9:34:25 PM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
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To: TXnMA

the imaging technology, or the thing falling out of the sky?


4 posted on 03/26/2018 9:50:33 PM PDT by JohnBrowdie
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To: BenLurkin

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.


5 posted on 03/26/2018 10:00:00 PM PDT by Equine1952 (keep your eyes on the skies)
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To: BenLurkin

168 miles isn’t that low. Is it in a very elliptical orbit?


6 posted on 03/26/2018 10:05:50 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: JohnBrowdie

Both, in their own way.


7 posted on 03/26/2018 10:08:31 PM PDT by Ingtar
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To: Vince Ferrer
Doesn't seem to be. We've been watching it periodically online at Satview and it seems to be mostly at 211 KM. Right now at 208. If it elliptical, very minor.

Here: http://www.satview.org/?sat_id=37820U

8 posted on 03/26/2018 10:08:58 PM PDT by Reno89519 (If Trump can't deliver and folds like a typical Republican, maybe he should be impeached.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...
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.

9 posted on 03/26/2018 10:09:10 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (www.tapatalk.com/groups/godsgravesglyphs/, forum.darwincentral.org, www.gopbriefingroom.com)
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To: BenLurkin

Watch the skies. Everywhere. Keep watching the skies!


10 posted on 03/26/2018 10:11:17 PM PDT by Ken H (Best election ever!)
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To: BenLurkin

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.


11 posted on 03/26/2018 10:17:10 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder
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To: BenLurkin

12 posted on 03/26/2018 10:23:42 PM PDT by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
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To: Theoria

That map has it going directly above my house. Operative word: above.


13 posted on 03/26/2018 10:33:53 PM PDT by Jemian (Americans are dreamers, too.)
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To: Vince Ferrer
From the german radar in the article, I can see why there is a predicting problem. The radar shows it tumbling erratically, not on any particular axis. You should go to the article, ignore the signup, and click spaceflight in the list across the top. Article links go vertically on the side and click the Taidong1 icon. It will be the first or second image in the article, the one with the play arrow to click on. Short video but shows the erratic tumble in radar, with some kind of image beside it to help you see what the orange radar is showing,
14 posted on 03/26/2018 10:34:56 PM PDT by Kay Ludlow
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To: BenLurkin

For those about to be obliterated, we salute you!


15 posted on 03/26/2018 10:44:53 PM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: SunkenCiv

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<)


16 posted on 03/26/2018 11:24:06 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE
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To: Robert A Cook PE

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”.


17 posted on 03/26/2018 11:48:35 PM PDT by Equine1952 (keep your eyes on the skies - one selfy is worth a hundred Old Faithfuls)
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To: JohnBrowdie

The imaging. Think about the challenge of doing that with an optical telescope on the ground...


18 posted on 03/27/2018 12:10:45 AM PDT by TXnMA ("Allah": Satan's current alias; "0bama": Allah's stooge; "Moderate Muslims": Allah's useful idiots.)
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To: Jemian

The Chinese crashed a satellite into my house once.

Once.


19 posted on 03/27/2018 3:09:35 AM PDT by Lazamataz (What America needs is more Hogg control.)
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To: BenLurkin

Wow, it’s already burning up!


20 posted on 03/27/2018 3:22:38 AM PDT by BobL (I shop at Walmart and eat at McDonald's...I just don't tell anyone)
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