Falling Satellite May Hit Earth
Posted on: Sunday, 27 January 2008, 09:00 CST
U.S. officials say a disabled American spy satellite is plummeting toward Earth and will likely hit by late February or early March.
Authorities monitoring the situation say they suspect the lunging device is an experimental imagery satellite built by Lockheed Martin and launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in December 2006 aboard a Delta II rocket, The New York Times reported Sunday.
They say shortly after the satellite reached orbit, ground controllers lost the ability to control it and were never able to regain communication.
Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation, Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement.
Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause.
It is common for satellites to enter Earth's atmosphere, but most break up before they reach land, said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
He added it is often difficult to control the satellite's trajectory or its re-entry into the atmosphere. The debris, if any survives the fiery descent, typically lands in remote areas and causes little or no harm.
Source: United Press International
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User Comments (4)
| 4. |
Posted by c.a on 01/30/2008, 16:15 where else would the falling satellite hit?what jupiter ........well we all know its gonna hit earth. we need to know somethin we dont know. |
| 3. |
Posted by keke mecfee on 01/30/2008, 16:13 blah blah blah cmon people!!!! we need more information on the falling satellite. u knoe like the name of it whats gona happen what kind it was u know suff like that. gosh :whisper: |
| 2. |
Posted by J.R. on 01/30/2008, 15:00 "Falling Satellite May Hit Earth"? LOL. Where else would it hit? :) |
| 1. |
Posted by isabel on 01/28/2008, 22:45 keep us updated...is there any pictures... |
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