UBB.Developers Forums General Discussion Chit Chat Italy Warns 39 Countries Satellite Could Hit Them

Italy said on Monday it had alerted 39 countries to the risk that a satellite it deactivated last year could crash in their territory within the next 48 hours.

http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=scienceNews&storyID=2644436

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/bepposax_fall_030428.html

Now how do they know it's going to break into 140 pieces and not 160 or 90? How many of them will burn before they hit the ground?

Not that I am trying to minimize the danger for surely some of it will hit the ground. Should that be in a populated or dry grassy area... well, I don't need to go on.

It's just that I was struck by the fact that they said 140, as if they knew exactly how many there would be and what size they would be. If that is so then they have done some darned amazing engineering.

Hey, I just read the space.com article. It doesn't match the Reuters article too well.

I think I can do just as well as they did.


dateline Seattle, WA.

This just in. Weather in Seattle, rain, with a chance of rain. Weather along the equatorial belt: Some sun, with a chance of falling sattelite pieces ranging from 1 to 150 kilograms.

that's pretty good nav... when do you predict ubb 6.6 and threads 6.4?

Ah, you know this old reporter. I don't out rumours or hunches under my by line.

Wouldn't it burn up in the atmosphere?

If the pieces are large enough some or most of them will fall to earth.

Yeah, I agree with you tho, I think some of it's due to whoever's giving the info wants to sound like they know what they're talking about, so they give a number they know no-one will be able to check. And part is due to badgering reporters asking questions nobody will have an answer to

The story of my life. LOL...NM. I suck at humor.

Why not just blow it up when it's over water? Any pieces should burn on reentry, or hit water. *shrug*