Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NASA: Mystery Object Is 54-Year-Old Rocket, Not Asteroid
Military.com ^ | Dec 3, 2020 | The Canadian Press

Posted on 12/04/2020 6:21:35 AM PST by texas booster

click here to read article


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last
The object formally known as 2020 SO entered a wide, lopsided orbit around Earth last month and, on Tuesday, made its closest approach at just over 31,000 miles (50,476 kilometers).

It will depart the neighborhood in March, shooting back into its own orbit around the sun. Its next return: 2036.

1 posted on 12/04/2020 6:21:35 AM PST by texas booster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: texas booster
This Sept. 20, 1966 photo provided by the San Diego Air and Space Museum shows an Atlas Centaur 7 rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Convair/General Dynamics Astronautics Atlas Negative Collection/San Diego Air and Space Museum via AP)

Atlas Centaur 7 rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral

2 posted on 12/04/2020 6:23:13 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BenLurkin
A follow up to the thread over here:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3910907/posts

A Mysterious Object Is Hurtling Towards Earth, and Scientists Don't Know What It Is [But they have a real good idea of what it is]

3 posted on 12/04/2020 6:25:41 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

The object was classified as an asteroid after its discovery in September.

You mean some scientists that study science were wrong. Now I wonder if everything I hear from FAU XI is right. (sarc)


4 posted on 12/04/2020 6:32:12 AM PST by taterjay
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

DO NOT LITTER


5 posted on 12/04/2020 6:34:45 AM PST by cuban leaf (The political war playing out in every country now: Globalists vs Nationalists)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

It wasn’t tracked from its initial launch? How does something unpowered retain an orbit? How does it not either float off into space, or reenter the atmosphere?

They’re hiding something (as usual).


6 posted on 12/04/2020 6:35:39 AM PST by wastedyears (The left would kill every single one of us and our families if they knew they could get away with it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears

NASA’s version of “swamp gas.”


7 posted on 12/04/2020 6:38:11 AM PST by bayliving (Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears

Depending on the orbit an object is put in, it can stay in orbit for centuries.
I hope this one burns up in the atmosphere so we can be rid of it.


8 posted on 12/04/2020 6:45:12 AM PST by Little Ray (The Left and Right no longer have anything in common. A House divided against itself cannot stand.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears

How does something unpowered retain an orbit?


How does the moon stay in orbit?


9 posted on 12/04/2020 6:45:35 AM PST by CIB-173RDABN (I am not an expert in anything, and my opinion is just that, an opinion. I may be wrong.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: texas booster
A single-engine Centaur III being raised for mating to an Atlas V rocket


10 posted on 12/04/2020 6:57:13 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: texas booster
In related news, the Black Knight satellite.


11 posted on 12/04/2020 7:01:18 AM PST by C210N
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Gosh, and here I thought it was a monster cigar from some huge inter galactic space aliens.


12 posted on 12/04/2020 7:13:25 AM PST by norwaypinesavage (Calm down and enjoy the ride, great things are happening for our country)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CIB-173RDABN
How does the moon stay in orbit?


13 posted on 12/04/2020 7:15:50 AM PST by wastedyears (The left would kill every single one of us and our families if they knew they could get away with it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: norwaypinesavage
Please check your TV channel.

I am not sure that you are watching regular TV ...

14 posted on 12/04/2020 7:20:07 AM PST by texas booster (Join FreeRepublic's Folding@Home team (Team # 36120) Cure Alzheimer's!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears
How does something unpowered retain an orbit?

The earth moon and other planets have been doing pretty well for a while now.(?)

15 posted on 12/04/2020 7:20:56 AM PST by Delta 21 (Get off your ass and earn it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

Later a star ship will find it again and discover many people in stasis. One will be named Khan!!!


16 posted on 12/04/2020 7:23:01 AM PST by minnesota_bound (I need more money. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears

17 posted on 12/04/2020 7:25:21 AM PST by bert ( (KE. NP. N.C. +12) t Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay My, o. h, my, what a wonderful day)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: texas booster

V**GER


18 posted on 12/04/2020 7:50:01 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: faucetman

OOPS!

V***GER


19 posted on 12/04/2020 7:50:52 AM PST by faucetman (Just the facts, ma'am, Just the facts )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: wastedyears
How does something unpowered retain an orbit? How does it not either float off into space, or reenter the atmosphere?

It's in orbit around the sun, an orbit which is perturbed slightly by being so close to the earth's orbit. The unpowered rocket stage maintains its orbit the same way the unpowered earth maintains its orbit.

It's possible that at some point in the distant future, it will pass the earth closely enough to enter the atmosphere, and will burn up.

20 posted on 12/04/2020 8:17:49 AM PST by Campion (What part of "shall not be infringed" don't they understand?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-22 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson