Satellite debris deemed unhazardous (appears to be too small to cause damage on Earth)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 2/21/08 | Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor - ap

[illiac]

We could send them a present, too.....

[Publius6961]

BUMP!

[bajabaja]

I’ll disagree some with you, USFRIEND. It was more than a bluff. Reagan was competently advised by those who understood what computing power and other necessary technologies, and their increase, could do. He also had faith that it would continue its increase.

There is more computing power in your cell phone than what was used to get the Apollo missions to the moon.

It was more than a bluff, he saw the future because he had competent advisers, Dr. Edward Teller being only one.

[Zeppo]

Just curious for any of you chemistry buffs or rocket scientists out there... Why would there be a hydrazine “fire” as a result of the impact? If the hydrazine was intended to be used to power thrusters (to permit limited orbital manouvers during the expected lifetime of the craft), rather than as one component of a binary rocket fuel (which presumably would require mixing with some kind of liquid oxidizer, however there have not been reports of any tank full of oxidizer onboard the satellite), wouldn’t it need some kind of catalyst to create the fireworks, or is it just the case that the massive release of kinetic energy as a result of the collision (along with the near simultaneous vaporization as a result of its violent release into near-vacuum conditions of LEO) would be more than enough to make the hydrazine decompose into its constituent components thereby leading to release of large amounts of energy as a result?

[Ignatz]

Debris from the satellite has started re-entry and will continue through Thursday and into Friday, Cartwright said.

I'm guessing some pieces will be falling for months, a few for maybe even years. But in the next few days, shouldn't we be seeing an increase in "shooting starts" as the pieces re-enter the atmosphere?

[Born to Conserve]

Hydrazine is a monopropellant and does not need an oxidizer. It is normally exposed to a catalyst to release its chemical energy. I am guessing that a good shock would also release its chemical energy.

[SuziQ]

The elaborate intercept may trigger worries from some international leaders, who could see it as a thinly disguised attempt to test an anti-satellite weapon — one that could take out other nations' orbiting communications and spy spacecraft.

Good, I hope they STAY worried! It was successful, not only for the reduction of the threat of large bits falling on the earth, but also for the deterrent factor.

[SuziQ]

Debris from the satellite has started re-entry and will continue through Thursday and into Friday, Cartwright said.

We missed seeing the satellite the two times it came over our area because of clouds. Hope we'll get to see some of the debris falling!