NASA satellite crashes near Antarctica

Los Angeles Times ^ | February 24, 2009 | Michael Muskal

[pleikumud]

$280-million mission to study global warming fails as spacecraft falls short of orbit. A rocket carrying a NASA satellite designed to study global warming crashed near Antarctica, failing to reach orbit after it was launched this morning, according to officials.

The Orbiting Carbon Observatory satellite never reached orbit after it took off about 2 a.m. Pacific Standard Time from Vandenberg Air Force Base, NASA said in a posting on its website.

[pleikumud]

CO2 is currently estimated to be present in the atmosphere only in trace amounts = to 380 parts per million. There is no proof that it is a hazard. Greenhouse gases are essential to maintain the earth's temperature. Without greenhouse gases - water vapor being the most common - the earth would be too cold for humans. The idea that man-made global warming is a threat to the earth is like a pagan religion, with Al Gore as the "pope". Some followers make predictions about rainfall, sea levels, and temperatures on earth 50 years or more from now. Meanwhile, the weather experts are unable to predict with much accuracy where a hurricane will land in 48 hours. The earth's climate is overwhelming determined by cycles of the sun, not by the relatively insignificant activities of homo sapiens.

[MarkeyD]

Maybe it just thought it could gather better data on the ground rather than from orbit?

[GSWarrior]

When the satellite crashed into the ocean it cause a displacement that dislodged a huge ice shelf.

[mowowie]

This is the first time i ever cheered a NASA rocket crash.

Pretty sad.

[icwhatudo]

A question to those who really follow this:

I read somewhere about pollution numbers that were startling and I can’t remember what the numbers were exactly. Please help if you know. It was something like (CO2/pollution/? etc) released per year is 600 (tons/units/millions/???) and of the 600-man makes 30 and of the 30- the US makes 9 and of the 9-if we cripple industry- we might be able to cut 3.

So 3 out of 600 was what we were killing our industry for.

I know these numbers/terms are way off so I hope someone can link to the real stats I’m trying to remember-Thanks! (and sorry for being so vague)

[BigFinn]

I find it ironic that it crashed near Antartica. Too bad $289 mil of our money went with it. I wonder how many carbon credits that represents.

[TrueKnightGalahad]

Let me be the first to say: Global Warming caused that crash!

[The Sons of Liberty]

NASA satellite crashes near Antarctica

How many penguins, seals, and whales did it kill?
How much carbon dioxide went into the atmosphere from the launch?
Did it break off an ice shelf in the crash?
What is algore going to do to fix it?

[xcamel]

crashed 9 or 10 times now..

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;q=quick;s=NASA

[boughtwithaprice]

Was Al Gore aboard?

[businessprofessor]

Let me be the first to say: Global Warming caused that crash!

I think you meant GW Bush caused that crash,

[GSWarrior]

I am getting tired of posting the same trite response to all these satellite threads.

[NickFlooding]

Just as well, it was already a huge waste of the tax payers money before the launch. But that seems to be the roll of the Federal Government so I guess it is OK.

[2111USMC]

The success or failure of this launch made no difference financially. Either way, it was a total waste of money.

[xcamel]

Probably crashed due to overposting on FR...

[bigheadfred]

Some peepull have seen Stars Wars like 20 godzillan times...

[Pessimist]

“When the satellite crashed into the ocean it cause a displacement that dislodged a huge ice shelf.”

Seriuosly? Sounds like something that would happen on the Simpsons! :)

[Stonewall Jackson]

That satellite has more lives than a cat.

It launches, it crashes, it launches, it crashes, etc...

[Kartographer]

I need to call PETA I have evidence that the rocket hit a poor defenseless Muslim duck! The collision caused the ensuing crash! The whole thing was a plot by the ‘EVIL’ Utility Companies and the Oil Companies, with the help of the Mossad who continue in their relentless persecution of peaceful Islamic water fowl.

[free-n-TX]

Poetic justice...
Or will they get a “bail-out” too for a new one?