On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

This should be interesting.

The US has decided to shoot down a failed satellite that is expected to drop
out of orbit in early March.
There is concern that half of the 5,000 lb satellite may remain intact and
hit the earth in a yet unknown area.

The plan is to shoot it down before it enters the earth's atmosphere with a
missile fired from a US Navy ship.

Details at 11.

To what purpose? Unless they can blow it to pieces or change its
trajectory to their liking what will it accomplish except perhaps test
a "star wars" device.
Should be interesting watching this develop.

--Vic

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

This should be interesting.

The US has decided to shoot down a failed satellite that is expected to
drop
out of orbit in early March.
There is concern that half of the 5,000 lb satellite may remain intact and
hit the earth in a yet unknown area.



To what purpose? Unless they can blow it to pieces or change its
trajectory to their liking what will it accomplish except perhaps test
a "star wars" device.
Should be interesting watching this develop.

--Vic

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are the
components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the fuel
will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the "real"
reason.

Eisboch

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:37:13 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


"Vic Smith" wrote in message
.. .

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

This should be interesting.

The US has decided to shoot down a failed satellite that is expected to
drop
out of orbit in early March.
There is concern that half of the 5,000 lb satellite may remain intact and
hit the earth in a yet unknown area.

To what purpose? Unless they can blow it to pieces or change its
trajectory to their liking what will it accomplish except perhaps test
a "star wars" device.
Should be interesting watching this develop.

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are the
components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the fuel
will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the "real"
reason.

You mean there has to be another reason for blowing stuff up?

That show should be spectacular.

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

This should be interesting.

The US has decided to shoot down a failed satellite that is expected to
drop
out of orbit in early March.
There is concern that half of the 5,000 lb satellite may remain intact
and
hit the earth in a yet unknown area.



To what purpose? Unless they can blow it to pieces or change its
trajectory to their liking what will it accomplish except perhaps test
a "star wars" device.
Should be interesting watching this develop.

--Vic

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch


Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS. Sometimes
there's more than one reason for doing something.

JoeSpareBedroom wrote:
"Eisboch" wrote in message
...
"Vic Smith" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:16:38 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

This should be interesting.

The US has decided to shoot down a failed satellite that is expected to
drop
out of orbit in early March.
There is concern that half of the 5,000 lb satellite may remain intact
and
hit the earth in a yet unknown area.

To what purpose? Unless they can blow it to pieces or change its
trajectory to their liking what will it accomplish except perhaps test
a "star wars" device.
Should be interesting watching this develop.

--Vic
The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch


Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS. Sometimes
there's more than one reason for doing something.




Multitasking again, eh?

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch



Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS. Sometimes
there's more than one reason for doing something.

I had a bet with myself that you would be the first.

Eisboch

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch



Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS.
Sometimes there's more than one reason for doing something.

I had a bet with myself that you would be the first.

Eisboch


I guess you're right. The only reason to shoot down the satellite is the
issue with its dangerous fuel. Nobody else in government or industry finds
the event useful, important or interesting for any reason whatsoever.
Period.

Once upon a time there were four little rabbits, and their names were
Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter.

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:46:34 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:


"JoeSpareBedroom" wrote in message
...

"Eisboch" wrote in message
...

The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS. Sometimes
there's more than one reason for doing something.

I had a bet with myself that you would be the first.

Did you win anything? :)

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 09:46:34 -0500, "Eisboch" wrote:

Later today, I'm going to go to the post office for TWO REASONS. Sometimes
there's more than one reason for doing something.

I had a bet with myself that you would be the first.

You can always count on the "cabin fever" crowd to come through.

On Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:37:13 -0500, Eisboch wrote:


The concern is that the tanks containing the rocket fuel "hydrazine" are
the components most likely to survive re-entry through the atmosphere.
Hydrazine poses a danger to people if inhaled. By blowing them up, the
fuel will be burned up during re-entry.

Of course, our all our resident NG cynics will now chime in with the
"real" reason.

Eisboch

I believe the stated reason, but I'm a little surprised they announced
it. Failure, and it is experimental, could be a bit embarrassing. It
seems to me, they should have just done it.