Posted on Nov 1, 2014
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
3.4K
8
6
1
1
0
Comet
We often hear of the damage done by space debris as it re-enters our atmosphere and causing in some cases, massive damage. But there is more to it than that. We also have a lot of space crafts floating around our world. And this is mainly satellites.

October 19, 2014 a comet nearly struck four space craft as they are geosynchronously moving about our planet. Those are Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and MAVEN and India's MOM. Fortunately the near hit causes for alarm, especially consideration the importance of these satellites to our commerce, safety and weather systems.
Avatar feed
Responses: 3
PO2 Jonathan Scharff
2
2
0
Could we vote on sending a few politicians up there???? lol
(2)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca
1
1
0
Well, this week, we had one big piece that didn't make it up there to become debris. Tragically we also lost a pioneer pilot & craft in commercial space transportation. The space station is pretty big and if it goes the way of Skylab sometime in the future, they're going to have to figure out how to break it up well before its orbit decays.
(1)
Comment
(0)
Avatar small
Cpl Ray Fernandez
1
1
0
Even objects that do not reenter our atmosphere pose a great threat to satellites and space craft. the speed and velocity of even say a loose bolt can be fatal to both people and material. We would need to find a way to reduce the speed of debris and objects that no longer function in a way that would be safe yet wouldn't produce even smaller objects. So far we've been lucky that we have not had any fatalities yet, but there will be a first time and it will be gruesome.
(1)
Comment
(0)
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
10 y
Cpl Ray Fernandez I agree and we might have to find ways of destroying or removing objects to protect those satellites and so on.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Cpl Ray Fernandez
Cpl Ray Fernandez
10 y
I think we might be able to experiment and use then as analogues to dealing with a potential asteroid impact or some other method where we develop a material to slow them down to allow them to either crash into the ocean intact or be retrieved since destroying them would like magnify the problem.
(1)
Reply
(0)
SSgt Forensic Meteorological Consultant
SSgt (Join to see)
10 y
Cpl Ray Fernandez Perhaps harnessing gravity waves to deflect.
(0)
Reply
(0)
Avatar small

Join nearly 2 million former and current members of the US military, just like you.

close