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[deadbeef]

This would make a helluva conversation piece for the mantle.

 

[Grimm Fandango]

One thing we can be sure of, God is sending a message to whatever State it lands in.

Will the creator crater create a Jesus silhouette?

 

[Az987]

If this thing should crash into my house, I'll be taking applications from as many lawyers as possible... Reputable, irreputable, doesn't matter, we'll be millionaires.

*edit*

Also -- Conspiracy theoriest: don't you think that this would be a great excuse to like launch some missiles into Syria and take out Assad? Be like, "Oh, shit, satelite pieces!"

I had a similar thought. I was thinking what if it hits the leader of some countries house that we don't like.

 

[Orayn]

Just curious, but if the worst possible scenario were to happen and people ended getting hurt or killed, could the relatives of the victims sue NASA?

For... What? Failing to give a more accurate projection of where the debris might fall?

 

[Spider from Mars]

If anything bad happends, Cern will just time travel so don't worry about it homies.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

is Texas still praying for rain?

 

[Escape Goat]

Its SkyLab all over again! Oh nooooo!

 

[Orayn]

I had a similar thought. I was thinking what if it hits the leader of some countries house that we don't like.

Satellite debris and ICBMs aren't terribly similar...

 

[ckohler]

Just curious, but if the worst possible scenario were to happen and people ended getting hurt or killed, could the relatives of the victims sue NASA?

I'm no lawyer but a quick Google search suggest they might. Typically, governments can not be sued by their citizens however Congress enacted the Federal Tort Claims Act in 1948 after a US Bomber crashed into the Empire State Building.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Tort_Claims_Act

 

[Barrett2]

For... What? Failing to give a more accurate projection of where the debris might fall?

Maybe strict liability - tort. If sending metal into space that has to crash eventually doesn't fit the test for strict liability, I don't know what would.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

So if the potential impact pieces really are a couple of hundred pounds, I mean that's not Rods From God size, but what is the potential explosive power of the (hypothetical) largest piece if it hits land?

 

[AlimNassor]

And when it does hit how much damage will it do? Are we talking broken windows bad or blown up car bad?

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

Maybe strict liability - tort. If sending metal into space that has to crash eventually doesn't fit the test for strict liability, I don't know what would.

Most likely whatever was in the complaint for that Jaycn Duggand kidnapping lawsuit. lol

 

[krameriffic]

It absolutely boggles my mind that they can't figure it out yet. I'm sure it's a herculean task to do so, but when thinking of how we can calculate orbits and gravitational fields to land modules on other planets/moons one would think we could do this as well.

We're in control of those things. Air resistance is a fickle beast to model when you don't have control of the satellite. Tumbling, burning, breaking apart, they all significantly affect way air resistance is going to affect this thing in a highly unpredictable manner.

 

[MrOogieBoogie]

This scared the shit out of me for some reason.

 

[Az987]

Satellite debris and ICBMs aren't terribly similar...

Ha that's what you think!

 

[Krakatoa]

Lawyers must be drooling in anticpation for the lawsuits.

I am wondering how much of an uproar this would have caused if it was anyone's elses satalite falling from the sky?

 

[Barrett2]

So if the potential impact pieces really are a couple of hundred pounds, I mean that's not Rods From God size, but what is the potential explosive power of the (hypothetical) largest piece if it hits land?

If you haven't already moved into an old missile silo, you are already dead.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

Lawyers must be drooling in anticpation for the lawsuits.

I am wondering how much of an uproar this would have caused if it was anyone's elses satalitie falling from the sky?

Well Mir did give the potential for people to get free tacos IIRC.

 

[Hari Seldon]

Lawyers must be drooling in anticpation for the lawsuits.

I am wondering how much of an uproar this would have caused if it was anyone's elses satalite falling from the sky?

I dunno the odds of it falling in a populated area are pretty low I would imagine. Ever look out the window when flying over the US?

 

[Oozinator]

Why don't they use the laser railgun to shoot and disintegrate it ?

 

[OgTheClever]

I don't think it's been posted yet, but the latest satellite updates can be found here: http://www.nasa.gov/rss/uars_update.xml

 

[akira28]

I dare it to try to hit me. Won't even make a dent.

 

[DarthWoo]

I think they said on the news that NASA put the odds of any of the satellite hitting a human being at 1:3200. Now the probability of it hitting you is 13200*human population) or something like that.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

I don't think it's been posted yet, but the latest satellite updates can be found here: http://www.nasa.gov/rss/uars_update.xml

Main page also has a lot of good info too
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/uars/index.html

 

[Dysun]

Not gonna lie, I read Miami and I did a double-take

 

[GodfatherX]

I don't think a 200 lb piece of metal falling from space is covered by my insurance

 

[ezekial45]

Lawyers must be drooling in anticpation for the lawsuits.

I am wondering how much of an uproar this would have caused if it was anyone's elses satalite falling from the sky?

 

[Barrett2]

Ever look out the window when flying over the US?

Yep. Everybody has a pool but me. -_-

I don't think a 200 lb piece of metal falling from space is covered by my insurance

I wonder if it would fall under the 'Act of God' exception in a homeowner's policy?

 

[toxicgonzo]

brb, going to underground bunker

Spoiler

I know the chances of being struck are incredibly slim

 

[Jme]

Hay guys, skylab turned out ok, so we'll be just fine.

 

[caramac]

Satellite risk v lightning risk

1 in 3,200: Any UARS debris hitting a person
1 in 21 trillion: You being hit by it
1 in 10,000: Being struck by lightning in the US during your lifetime

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

Can someone post some caps?
http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/585584main_UARS_Status.pdf

NASA already did the casualty risks on page 8.

 

[XeroSauce]

I want a piece, I want a piece!

 

[Brannon]

Bring it.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Skylab was boss, this seems like peanuts. But come to think of it how and when will the ISS come down when the time comes?

 

[ajf009]

 

[dankir]

Pretty fucking much!

 

[ced]

Skylab was boss, this seems like peanuts. But come to think of it how and when will the ISS come down when the time comes?

As long as they can control it I think I read somewhere it will be ditched in the Pacific.

 

[Orayn]

Skylab was boss, this seems like peanuts. But come to think of it how and when will the ISS come down when the time comes?

The ISS has its own propulsion, so we'll have a lot more control over how and when it re-enters. I imagine they'll plot a course for the ocean when the time comes to bring it down.

 

[Stinkles]

Its SkyLab all over again! Oh nooooo!

Eerily prescient John Belushi on today's satellite and Tea Party, environment and solar energy problems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAr2HkQr1YM

 

[xbhaskarx]

Why can't the military test out whatever satellite-destroying weaponry they have by blasting this out of the sky?

 

[Orayn]

Why can't the military test out whatever satellite-destroying weaponry they have by blasting this out of the sky?

It's not an emergency (yet) and Star Wars got canned a long time ago.

 

[williamsan]

But really, I wonder where it'll fall. I'd love to see a video of it hitting the surface of Earth/ Pacific Ocean.

 

[levious]

Skylab was boss, this seems like peanuts. But come to think of it how and when will the ISS come down when the time comes?

controlled reentry for most every modern piece of equipment up there, like I said earlier, this one is the last or one of last that will be an issue.

 

[akira28]

It's not an emergency (yet) and Star Wars got canned a long time ago.

'Star Wars' got defunded, but there are a few laser defense programs kicking about. For ICBMs etc. I'm guessing this thing is too fast and erratic and not dangerous enough to make an attempt, like they did with that bus sized satellite a few years back.

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

It's not an emergency (yet) and Star Wars got canned a long time ago.

We actually have a functioning ASAT system.

 

[Smiles and Cries]

Why can't the military test out whatever satellite-destroying weaponry they have by blasting this out of the sky?

We could ask China to shoot it down since we broke our programs for such things
China had a successful test shot and made a mess up there

 

[BorkBork]

Osu! Takake! Ouendan!

 

[Manos: The Hans of Fate]

We could ask China to shoot it down since we broke our programs for such things
China had a successful test shot and made a mess up there

We have one too, but others thankfully was done at a lower altitude and didn't dump any dangerous space debris
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-satellite_weapon#United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA_193
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Burnt_Frost