[Brian S. Fitzgerald]

there must be some other reason for doing this - maybe the Russians have the capability to grab it.

[dangerdoc]

“there must be some other reason for doing this - maybe the Russians have the capability to grab it.”

Or the debri field will cross paths with a few chinese or ruski satellites on the way down.

[rellimpank]

-—I can’t help but have the horrible feeling it may be for “environmental” reasons—like “green” bullets-—

[ReignOfError]

They certainly have the capability to pick it up if it lands on them.

[mbynack]

One of the reasons that the government said that they would shoot it down is to prevent the hydrzine on board from getting into the atmosphere. Hydrazine was used on some military aircraft and is some really nasty stuff.

From Wikopedia "Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable, especially in the anhydrous form. Symptoms of acute exposure to high levels of hydrazine in humans may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, coma, and it can also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The liquid is corrosive and may produce dermatitis from skin contact in humans and animals. Effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, and thyroid have been reported in animals chronically exposed to hydrazine via inhalation. Increased incidences of lung, nasal cavity, and liver tumors have been observed in rodents exposed to hydrazine."

If the fuel tank survived reentry and landed in a major city or water supply, it would be a very bad thing.

[ANGGAPO]

There is some critical stuff on board that could survive reentry and land in someone’s back yard. Or could be retrieved by someone, like the Russians. Just a guess.