TooMuchToDo: This is a NOTAM (notice to airman) for the high-powered radar system which is in the process of being towed to track both the satellite and the debris field which is going to be left over from vehicle destruction.

Big ass radar in question: Link (new window)

The Sea Based X-band (SBX) RADAR does not need towing. It moves under it's own power.

\Just saying.

upright_apes_r_us

Cheney said he could shoot it.
In other news : Cheney's legal staff went in to hiding.

Funny...I have not heard about him in like eight months. I guess he didn't get the cookies I sent to "The Bunker". Sad really.

TooMuchToDo:
Big ass radar in question: Link (new window)

Aw man, that's gonna play holy hell with my radar detector on my boat.

Kaka 2008-02-19 07:46:08 PM
If there really is a US Navy ship, let alone an Aegis rig named "Lake Erie"...

Hah. There is, it's homeported in Pearl Harbor. We know the "Golf Ball" well too, since I think it's spent more time here undergoing repair than in its designated operating area of Adak, Alaska. (can't say I blame it.)

You can find out more here

TooMuchToDo: This is a NOTAM (notice to airman) for the high-powered radar system which is in the process of being towed to track both the satellite and the debris field which is going to be left over from vehicle destruction.

A0601/08 - QXXXX SBX-1, A SURFACE VESSEL TESTING A HIGH POWERED X BAND
RADAR SYSTEM WILL BE OPERATING IN THE VICINITY OF 2700N/16300W. THE
VESSEL ALSO HAS A SEARCH RADAR ON BOARD FOR DETECTING AIRCRAFT WITHIN
APPROXIMATELY 81NM OF THE VESSEL. IF AIRCRAFT ARE DETECTED WITHIN 8.5
NM OF THE VESSEL TESTING OF THE HIGH POWERED RADAR SYSTEM WILL BE
SUSPENDED. WIE UNTIL 05 MAR 23:59 2008. CREATED: 11 FEB 13:55 2008

Big ass radar in question: Link (new window)

I prefer BIE

U.S. warning notice to other nations: "Ya’ll jus stay clear a’ this here little stretch a ocean fer a while. Me ‘n the boys gunna do a little target shootin."

I see NASA have activated Andrews AFB as a backup landing site for Atlantis tomorrow, in addition to the usual Kennedy Space Center runway, for a total of 4 chances to deorbit all day. They want to land that thing with no chance for a contingency day on Thursday.

You know that missile officer has got to be crapping his pants right about now. This is a once in a career operation. The one time he actually gets to do his thing. And the entire world is watching. Hi-def on the 6 oclock news.

"Please, Lord, don't let me fark up."

http://">Link

Owwwwww Man some thing just landed in my yard !!

Anybone know the speed of this object?


demanton
/snicker

Any body will do also.

/Or even anyone.

MrHacks: Quasi, Austrailia takes satellites seriously.

THIS

Who is shiatting their pants are the congress critters and senators who pork barrel these fine projects.

This season on lost, everyone is killed by a falling satellite.

And it was good.

Can anyone tell me just what the hell kind of coordinates those are? I'm just a simple mill worker's son, but in my day latitude and longitude numbers didn't go up nearly that high.

TooMuchToDo: thanks for the interesting link. That really is a big ass radar ship.

It's just the oil rig portion. In that picture it's sitting on top of a float on/float off ship, but yeah, pretty sure it's the most powerful radar on earth, and if you don't heed the NOTAM your balls will be toast.

Canadian Canuck: That's all I care about. I want to see some explosions.

Put on the History channel's Mega Disasters or anything with massive explosions, jets, etc., mute the volume and crank some metal. It's a fun time.

I'M TELLING YOU, THAT SATELLITE WANTS TO DEFECT!

Out in the Pacific, people are arranging 'watching' parties for the launch. We figure that we might get to see a neat explosion, or (if nothing else) some whales looking for action.

/just another day in paradise

zvoidx: MomCore: Just what I need. One more farking thing to panic about.

There wasn't an EVERYBODY PANIC at the end of the headline...so you should be ok.

no, no no, it's Don't Panic, by the way do you know where your towel is? and you best finish your beer

Cool. My parents are on a Hawaiian cruise when that thing will happen. I hope they take some pictures of the falling debris.

Yes, I can totally imagine my mother saying, "Make sure you get those glowing pieces in the picture. CLICK! Why did the flash go off? Did you get the glowing pieces?"

Old_Chief_Scott: I'm still in the dark, however, as to where the debris is expected to fall.

I am also wondering about this. According to this Heavens Above plot the satellite's orbit after interception will pass over central BC and several other Canadian provinces (although Vancouver seems to be in the clear).

This plot is for the satellite itself, not for the debris field. However the debris will be in approximately the same orbit as the satellite until atmospheric drag slows it down significantly, so the larger chunks will probably fall somewhere close to this path.

drjekel_mrhyde: better not miss or China will be LOLing

Shouldn't that be RORing?

In my story, the satellite's autonomous CAS (Collision Avoidance System) kicks in.

elektronic pretty sure it's the most powerful radar on earth

I think Pave PAWS is the most powerful el radar.

By Now, The Uzbekistanis Have Discovered The Disappearance Of Their Orbital Platform ^

After reading all the stories on this, I was wondering if someone could answer a question I have:
The reason that the satellite is being shot down is because it has a hazardous material on board that could kill anyone in the area of impact. But, what happens to this chemical when the satellite is destroyed in the atmosphere? I mean, won't it still cause some drama in the atmosphere?

ThrobblefootSpectre: U.S. warning notice to other nations: "Ya'll jus stay clear a' this here little stretch a ocean fer a while. Me 'n the boys gunna do a little target shootin."

Yup, it's amazing how that works isn't it? =P

This should provide for some quality fireworks and hopefully some discovery HD footage.

oukewldave: Shouldn't that be RORing?

No.
Chinese, Japanese not same-same, you savvy Kweilo?

The reason this satellite is being shot down in such a public spectacle is so our government can prove to anyone out there that it can shoot down a satellite in orbit.

Dimndgal1: The reason that the satellite is being shot down is because it has a hazardous material on board that could kill anyone in the area of impact.

So they say. Didn't read the thread, so it might have been said, but I'm betting it is more of a show of force and a training exercise than any danger posed by the satellite.
My bro at the Pentagon thinks so too.

mailnride: The reason this satellite is being shot down in such a public spectacle is so our government can prove to anyone out there that it can shoot down a satellite in orbit.

Let's see if they actually do it first.

Tofu: elektronic pretty sure it's the most powerful radar on earth

I think Pave PAWS is the most powerful el radar.

Why would you use SBX for this mission if PAVE-PAWS covers the area in question and is more powerful?

I understand the need for testing, but the intent is to actually hit something.

Dimndgal1: The reason that the satellite is being shot down is because it has a hazardous material on board that could kill anyone in the area of impact. But, what happens to this chemical when the satellite is destroyed in the atmosphere? I mean, won't it still cause some drama in the atmosphere?

Hydrazine is the same stuff used in torpedoes as a fuel. In my Navy days, we had an EXTENSIVE disaster plan if any of this stuff leaked or got loose. It is nasty bad. Dispersed 130 miles up, it will likely get very diluted. I still haven't been able to get any good information on the probability of the fuel tank surviving an uncontrolled re-entry. It certainly wasn't built for that so I tend to lean towards the "we don't want anyone getting their hands on this thing" reason for the shoot-down.

elektronic: Tofu: elektronic pretty sure it's the most powerful radar on earth

I think Pave PAWS is the most powerful el radar.

Why would you use SBX for this mission if PAVE-PAWS covers the area in question and is more powerful?

I understand the need for testing, but the intent is to actually hit something.

pure triangulation for a much more precise picture of where crap is falling. That and the fact that this sort of thing doesn't happen all that often, if they can test out an expensive system on something like this why not stroll on up there with the mobile oppression palace... err... sea based x-band radar platform.

Dimndgal1 But, what happens to this chemical when the satellite is destroyed in the atmosphere? I mean, won't it still cause some drama in the atmosphere?

"Drama in the atmosphere?" I don't know what you're getting at, but no, there's no such thing as "drama in the atmosphere" (apart from like global warming). A few kilos of hydrazene isn't going to harm the atmosphere. And once its diluted, it wont harm anything on the ground either. The only possible danger is if one of the propellant tanks makes it the ground intact (as happened with Columbia) and then cracks. That could potentially be a bad thing.

Bottom line on this: there is absolutely no negative side to attempting to shoot the satellite down. So why shouldn't they try?

Oh, so close to having my site actually farked.. One Link Off.

And even mentioned in the subject..

dang. :)

FreeGovernmentCheese: Unfortunatlly the informed farkers can't say anything about this.


I'm an informed farker, but can't say if I'm getting a kick out of these replies.



/Not really
//Retired Navy EM

Tofu
I couldn't think of a good term to describe when stuff has the possibility of eroding or dissipating or affecting the atmosphere. "Drama" just seemed to cover all the bases.

I don't have a problem with them shooting at the satellite... I was just curious what possible repercussions would result in doing so.

Dimndgal1 I was just curious what possible repercussions would result in doing so.

I really can't think of any. It's only a problem if it lands nearly intact in a populated area.

Dimndgal1: I couldn't think of a good term to describe when stuff has the possibility of eroding or dissipating or affecting the atmosphere.

I'm pretty sure dissipating the atmosphere would cause a lot of drama.

Weirdly, this came up on a GIS for "atmosphere loss". I was hoping for a CGI of a planet from some movie.

I think it might be a good safety measure to setup a geofence for yourself and loved ones. Just so you know if anyone gets too close to the shootdown.