Russian and US satellites collide

[Viking Prince]

And to think we are concerned when the Chinese do this on purpose. We can do it by accident. Which is more of a concern?

US and Russian communications satellites have collided in space in the first such reported accident.

A satellite owned by the US company Iridium hit a defunct Russian satellite at high speed nearly 780km (485 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, Nasa said.

The risk to the International Space Station and a shuttle launch planned for later this month is said to be low.

The impact produced massive clouds of debris, and the magnitude of the crash is not expected to be clear for weeks.

There are thousands of man-made objects orbiting the earth, but this is thought to be the first time two intact spacecraft have hit each other, the BBC's Andy Gallacher in Miami says.

Russian and US satellites collide

[Oklop]

I posted it in Thema Devia and nobody commented. What I really would like to know is how did it happen?

I know there are special services for following objects in space and if Discovery is to be trusted they follow even small objects of a few centimeters.

It looks like someone is getting fired.

[Heinz Guderian]

We shoot an alien spacecraft out of the upper atmosphere, and they blame it on a "satellite collision". Typical.

This reminds me of 911.

[GuineaPig]

We shoot an alien spacecraft out of the upper atmosphere, and they blame it on a "satellite collision". Typical.

This reminds me of 911.

As always, the intrepid truth-seekers cut right to the facts! Bravo!

I smell Mossad's involvement in this...

[Xan]

There is tons of satellites and debris outhere had to happen at some point.

[Markas]

We shoot an alien spacecraft out of the upper atmosphere, and they blame it on a "satellite collision". Typical.

This reminds me of 911.

They weren't a very good boy band but accusing them of being extraterrestrials is a bit much.

[Heinz Guderian]

They weren't a very good boy band but accusing them of being extraterrestrials is a bit much.

oh man, that is one awesome quintessentially british pop culture reference.

i salute you.

[Ahlerich]

What I really would like to know is how did it happen?

drunken russian driving

its just getting crowded up there. we need traffic rules.

[Holger Danske]

Jihad-Jeep tactics FTW... Seriously though this just shows that even though it's very unlikely to happen it would still be a very good investment to have some small maneuvering thrusters on your new satellites...

[Babur]

Jihad-Jeep tactics FTW... Seriously though this just shows that even though it's very unlikely to happen it would still be a very good investment to have some small maneuvering thrusters on your new satellites...

I think that it is Russia aggression!

[Hunter Makoy]

since they label it a defunct Russian satellite it makes me think it probably wasn't following its orbit properly or at the right speeds. The reason why this never happens is because if they are maintained, and kept in their orbit they wont come into contact with any other similarly maintained satellite.

[motiv-8]

Clearly our satellite won in this most titanic brawl of steel. *nod*

[Da Skinna]

They reassure us that most of the time these things fall into the sea... I can't wait til one hits a city block.

[Hub'ite]

They reassure us that most of the time these things fall into the sea... I can't wait til one hits a city block.

That's morbid.

[Ahlerich]

They reassure us that most of the time these things fall into the sea... I can't wait til one hits a city block.

that would be reality tv really commin into your livingroom - good prospects!

[gaunty14]

well, his avatar is from the film hannibal (I think)

[Da Skinna]

Is it so much to ask for?

[Heinz Guderian]

SAMOAN IZ TOAST!

But srsly, not cool posting videos from 911

[Grof]

whats to prevent one of these broken satellites from running into the space station? I know the space station flies lower then the satellites but you newer know.

[mongrel]

If the worst happens we must get the Shadows to play some ironic music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9rJT...eature=related