Posted on 02/03/2007 4:46:22 AM PST by MARKUSPRIME
MOSCOW, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. and Russian officials changed the International Space Station's orbit to keep it clear of debris from a satellite destroyed by China, a report says.
"We are diverting the orbit of the ISS to prevent a possible collision with large fragments of space debris, a decision the Russian Mission Control took together with the Johnson Space Center in Houston," a Russian Mission Control spokesman told Novosti Friday.
The spokesman said the debris did not threaten the space station, and that an anti-meteorite system protected it from smaller fragments.
China set off an international protest when it announced in January it had used a ground-based missile to hit one its aging weather satellites, Novosti reported.
The United States filed a diplomatic protest, Novosti said, because the weather satellite used approximately the same orbit as its spy satellites. Canada, Australia and Japan also objected.
Russian and U.S. space agencies were both tracking fragments from the weather satellite. U.S. officials said they were following 525 large fragments and had recorded between 500 and 600 instances of debris passing within three miles of orbiting satellites.
How's the anti-meteorite system work?
Thanks! Any opinions?
That does seem to be the case, which is sort of odd, considering that although Russia's economy is also booming (due to oil revenues), its population is declining, and is already around 1/10 of the PRC's.
Nothing - except I expect more from a professional international news agency, like verifying the story with American sources.
Opinion: this is (at least partially) the effect of giving missile technology to the PRC.
Ping...
There is trackable, large debris, but also much more, smaller, non-trackable debris that is also very dangerous.
One could also say that our problems with the Muslim world are the effect of buying huge amounts of oil and allowing them to use the profits as they please.
;^)
thanks, bfl
Thanks for the inclination figures. China has no right to play geo-orbital billiards with the huge costs at risk if there is a scratch.
I am livid about this.
We can track objects only so big. And these communist thug ass hats with penis size issues have to make our astronauts jobs even MORE dangerous??
Yet it is barely a mention in the news.
Maybe when they launch their next manned mission maybe we should do a test too and see how they like it?
It was sort of a "hold muh beer" move wasn't it?
"Hoe my lice wine, Cletus Wei. Watch dis."
Fitzcarraldo: One could also say that our problems with the Muslim world are the effect of buying huge amounts of oil and allowing them to use the profits as they please.
Hopefully you see some ethical difference between a sitting President manipulating departmental oversight in order to transfer sensitive technology to China for campaign contributions and legitimate corporate trade for an essential commodity.
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