Go back
A first in space: 2 satellites collide! Tuesday.

A first in space: 2 satellites collide! Tuesday.

Science

1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

An Iridium communications satellite and a defunct Russian communications satellite going at right angles to each other crashed into each other, a first for the worlds' space programs!
So the velocity of impact was halfway between (about) being together in the same orbit in the same direction and velocity, or practically zero and hitting headon at a combined speed of some 50,000 Km/hr. So it was like each one slamming into a brick wall at about 25,000 Km/hr. Needless to say, both the US and Russia are monitoring the debris, hundreds of pieces:
http://www.newsdaily.com/stories/tre51a8ia-us-space-collision/

Vote Up
Vote Down

Had to happen!

Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Had to happen!
At least this time it was accidental. Already been the more deliberate variety.

Vote Up
Vote Down

Makes one wonder: with all the stuff they throw in space, how are they ever going to clean up the garbage?

Vote Up
Vote Down

no longer a big waste of space -- now a big space of waste