Bus-Sized Satellite Headed Towards Earth

Officials Say U.S. Spy Satellite Will Re-enter The Atmosphere In About A Month

(AP)  A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday.

The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.

"Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, when asked about the situation after it was disclosed by other officials. "Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause."

He would not comment on whether it is possible for the satellite to be perhaps shot down by a missile. He said it would be inappropriate to discuss any specifics at this time.

A senior government official said that lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation.

Such an uncontrolled re-entry could risk exposure of U.S. secrets, said John Pike, a defense and intelligence expert. Spy satellites typically are disposed of through a controlled re-entry into the ocean so that no one else can access the spacecraft, he said.

Pike also said it's not likely the threat from the satellite could be eliminated by shooting it down with a missile, because that would create debris that would then re-enter the atmosphere and burn up or hit the ground.

Pike, director of the defense research group GlobalSecurity.org, estimated that the spacecraft weighs about 20,000 pounds and is the size of a small bus. He said the satellite would create 10 times less debris than the Columbia space shuttle crash in 2003.

As for possible hazardous material in the spacecraft, Pike said it might contain beryllium, a light metal with a high melting point that is used in the defense and aerospace industries.

Jeffrey Richelson, a senior fellow with the National Security Archive, said the spacecraft likely is a photo reconnaissance satellite. Such eyes in the sky are used to gather visual information from space about adversarial governments and terror groups, including construction at suspected nuclear sites or militant training camps. The satellites also can be used to survey damage from hurricanes, fires and other natural disasters.

The largest uncontrolled re-entry by a NASA spacecraft was Skylab, the 78-ton abandoned space station that fell from orbit in 1979. Its debris dropped harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia.

In 2000, NASA engineers successfully directed a safe de-orbit of the 17-ton Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, using rockets aboard the satellite to bring it down in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.

In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound science satellite smacked into the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would plummet.

[underdogus]

yikes watch your head....

[arakaczky]

Yahoo news says it may hit Earth. Well, duh. If it''s in orbit around the Earth and it de-orbits, it''s gonna hit Earth. Where, though, is another matter. Better wear your steel helmet.

[beehive21-2009]

NASA hiding another friendly alien craft "Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause." We reap lots of new inventions from these events,The USA since Roswell has many friends among the stars helps the earth stay in orbit.

[mikeinmaine1]

Please listen to this song! Could be a life saver! "THE SATELLITE HOP" http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=170140

RE: "Bus-Sized Satellite falling": Save Yourselves!!!! Please, RIGHT NOW!, start rehearsing my new life-saving dancing civil defense technique, "S.P.L.A.T": the "Satellite Protective Leaping Avoidance Technique".

To practice "S.P.L.A.T", PLEASE listen to my song, "THE SATELLITE HOP": http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=170140

Thank You! Best wishes, and good luck perfecting your own S.P.L.A.T. routine!

[mikeinmaine1]

Correction: to hear my song, "SATELLITE HOP",
www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=170140

Thanks!And good luck perfecting your own "S.P.L.A.T." routine ("Satellite Protective Leaping Avoidance Technique").

[awoloilman]

I hear there is a ranch in Crawford, TX, that needs a wake up call.

[shanev137]

shhhhh....it''s top secret.

don''t tell anyone.

[grazinggoat]

yikes watch your head....
Posted by underdogus at 07:55 PM : Jan 26, 2008

-Ask SickRick and terrorslam666 for a gooooood prayer for Geez, to save us, form the debris of this eloquently modern tool we use so well in order to better control other nations and... conquer them...

-Oh yeah keep it secret... Shhhshshsh....

[jowand]

Maybe it will hit Texas!!!

Posted by usmcvn at 07:58 PM : Jan 26, 2008

Maybe it''ll hit you on your thick head, vaporing you both, and raise the nations IQ by 50 points.

[cdfoxtrot]

Why not ask China for help in shooting this thing down?

[nothappyatall]

Another anonymous *** spills his guts to the media and the media PUBLISHES this anonymous krap as usual.


" A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday.

The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret. "


WHat might be really good, is if this thing hits some major populated city right square on killing thousands and contaminating a large area with toxic material, THEN, and only then- after the multi billion dollar lawsuits will we be rid of these dam spy weapons and other krap they keep spilling in space for war.

[nothappyatall]

Another anonymous azz spills his guts to the media and the media PUBLISHES this anonymous krap as usual.


" A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday.

The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret. "


WHat might be really good, is if this thing hits some major populated city right square on killing thousands and contaminating a large area with toxic material, THEN, and only then- after the multi billion dollar lawsuits will we be rid of these dam spy weapons and other krap they keep spilling in space for war.

[grazinggoat]

CBS NEWS: ''The satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret. ''

-Next thing you know this bus-sized satellite full of sh*t, hit Boushehr, the Nuclear facility in South-West Iran... A big atomic, radioactive clouds rise and cover the South, heads North to Tehran and follows its way North to Russia... OOOOPsss!

-Ya, Ya, But we advised you...

[xalen54]

1.) Why are we telling the world a spy satellite is coming down? Alot of enemy nations will be wanting that... .

2.) Why does this satellite have hazardous material? Is it really a spy satellite or a nuclear weapon? ooo pretty x)

[xalen54]

1.) Why are we telling the world a spy satellite is coming down? Alot of enemy nations will be wanting that... .

2.) Why does this satellite have hazardous material? Is it really a spy satellite or a nuclear weapon? ooo pretty x)

[samrensho]

With any luck it''ll land on the whitehouse.

[libsluvsuvs]

You can bet your last dollar where ever it hits, the war president will be on the other side of the world reading Dr. Zeuse


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Posted by middleman8 at 01:40 AM : Jan 27, 2008
+ report abuse

You can bet your last dollar where ever it hits, the anti-war pro-terrorist liberals whinning about it and has a conspiracy to back it up based on ''facts'' from micheal moore

[feelfree1]

samrensho,

Re: "With any luck it''ll land on the whitehouse."

Would anyone be interested in chipping in on a big arse magnet?

[Con Mohrat]

Why not ask China for help in shooting this thing down?
Posted by cdfoxtrot at 10:35 PM : Jan 26, 2008
=========

No one has to give China permission.

But I do wish they would shoot it down in low orbit. That should send fragments all over lower orbit and ruin all the rest of the spy satellites. Presto, no more threats. No more phoney intelligence about WMD somewhere.

[watcher269-2009]

Well, better this hitting the earth then that rock the size of the Empire state building that has a 50/50 chance of hitting the earth that NASA is tracking right now. This is a weird rock to - there are rumors that it keeps changing course and it may hit earth soon.

So scared are NASA that they stopped updating data on this rock on their website.

[crater7]

SO THATS WHERE SADDAM WAS KEEPING THOSE WMD''S.

"WE GOT EM"
ALL HAIL THE KING

[grazinggoat]

You can bet your last dollar where ever it hits, the war president will be on the other side of the world reading Dr. Zeuse


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Posted by middleman8 at 01:40 AM : Jan 27, 2008
+ report abuse

You can bet your last dollar where ever it hits, the anti-war pro-terrorist liberals whinning about it and has a conspiracy to back it up based on ''''facts'''' from micheal moore

Posted by libsluvsuvs at 02:05 AM : Jan 27, 2008

- libsluvsuvs, we all know you like the one who lied 935 times to the Nation and dragged it down into unprecedented debt, and we now don''t know the end of it! Maybe This Walking-Liar has been the cause of the termination if Freedom on Earth.

- libsluvsuvs, how many times did you kiss your God''s picture this morning?

[lewiston14]

Every spacecraft contains hazardous materials. The shuttle is loaded with them. So are satellites. The Russians use one of the most dangerous in their satellites. Its natural decay creates heat that keeps the birds warm. It is part of any space program. The earth is mostly water so there is a good chance it will fall into the water. There is also a chance it will fall on land but a good deal of land is also empty. A 20,000 pound object is not exactly a big deal free falling from space. It will spend most of its final moments burning up and maybe explode into a million little pieces before it hits earth from built up pressure in a sealed ball. Anything remaining is going to shatter into more little pieces when it hits. Wishing where it hits and hurts people is at best inhumane. It could land in your backyard as much as anyone eleses.

[pollroller1]

I feel much better now knowing that "The appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation." LOL

[lewiston14]

And please dump the Iran conspiracy theories. The US has thousands of ways to do anything and make it look like somebody elses fault. IMHO if the US thought Iran was anywhere near the problem would have already been taken care of.

[lewiston14]

You can bet your last dollar where ever it hits, the war president will be on the other side of the world reading Dr. Zeuse

Posted by middleman8

If NASA has lost control of it what the heck can Bush do about it? Nothing

[mcv57]

I hope it lands on the Bushwackers bedroom, then and only then will he get first hand experience of how life in Iraq be.

[mcv57]

. . . hey someone call Clint Eastwood and the Space Cowboys. I am sure they''re do it to save Hollywood.

[pjh822]

I am Kelly, wanna seek a rich older man... I uploaded my hot and *** photos at an age gap dating site agemingle.com under username "wildrose2008". Maybe you can check my photos there. Let''''s chat if possible


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Posted by kellyzy116 at 10:34 AM : Jan 27, 2008

The spammers are out and about this morning, I see.

[gheemaster38]

You can bet, where ever it hits, GAS PRICES WILL GO UP AGAIN!!

[cs4466]

If the satellite hit Bush and took him out, then I''d renounced atheism and believe in God.

[rafterman1]

===THEN, and only then- after the multi billion dollar lawsuits will we be rid of these dam spy weapons and other krap they keep spilling in space for war.===

===That should send fragments all over lower orbit and ruin all the rest of the spy satellites. Presto, no more threats. No more phoney intelligence about WMD somewhere.===

What, are you guys retarded? Don''t let Bush''s stupidity, deceptions and ineptness make you lose your perspective. Russia and China have spy satellites and we sure as hell need them too. Satellites do things like monitor compliance with nuclear weapons treaties and are key to the defense of the US. Just because Bush misused intelligence doesn''t make getting intelligence bad.

[gheemaster38]

What goes up! Must come down! Now if it could only hit mortgage companies and banks...

[ubrew12]

The value of photo-reconnaisance to U.S. foreign policy came crashing to the ground 5 years ago with the buildup to the Iraq invasion. Time and again ''evidence'' of Saddams Weapons of Mass Destruction were spotted by orbiting telescopes that could easily have been refuted if the CIA has only invested in some good ol'' fashioned human intelligence on the ground.

Turns out patterns in space-photos can be anything you want them to be, and the guys charged with INTERPRETING those photos were all right-wing idealogues, anxious to send other men into Iraq for peace, freedom, and the American way.

[prinzowhales]

The buzz in an article at Rense.com is that it contains plutonium...

[rafterman1]

===Turns out patterns in space-photos can be anything you want them to be===

Not true. The American public would be shocked at the level of capability of our photo recon satellites. The intel can be misused by the politicians. But they still know exactly what they are looking at. How they choose to spin it is up to the "leadership".

[erasmus6]

Geez, the Americans are always causing problems. The very least they could do is make sure it lands on their turf, don''t ya think?:)

[olebd]

Must have bought this piece of junk from Wal-Mart.

[olebd]

How about if Dubya heads up in the shuttle, gets a rope around it and slingshots it out into space? He can do it. At least, in his mind, he thinks he can do anything!

[incog-nito]

The satellite is reported to be carrying schoolchildren back from a field trip.

[nirak2-2009]

This makes me nervous knowing a bus size satellite might drop somewhere and I hope it drops on the White House while Bush and Cheney still occupy it.

[nmsuip]

Another example of deteriorating product quality. You get what you pay for. The reason that corporations claim they can recklessly cut costs while delivering "quality" products is because they have lowered consumers'' "quality" expectations. Consider household appliances as an example. How long did your last microwave last? How long did your parents'' microwave last? My experience is something like 10 years 7 years 2 years. But sleep well. "...Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation..."

[prairiefox1]

The buzz in an article at Rense.com is that it contains plutonium...


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Posted by Prinzowhales
@@@@@@@@@@@@@
YOU CAN SAFELY HANDLE PLUTONIUM AS LONG AS YOU DON''T INGEST IT!

[ubrew12]

nmsuip said: "Another example of deteriorating product quality. You get what you pay for. "
You have no idea how wrong you are. When republicans say they don''t approve of government spending, they DONT mean military spending. Republicans never met a government sacred cash cow for the military that they DIDNT love.

These military assets cost at LEAST five times what similar commercial assets would cost. The military industrial complex can charge such exhorbitant prices because its noncapitalist, noncompetitive, and has the govt over a barrel. Indeed, if your looking for a prime example of what Republicans call ''wasteful socialized spending'' in America, you need look no further than the stuff the military buys.

It''s the ultimate irony. Republicans ARENT against socialism. They''re just against socialism for poor people. Republicans support socialized spending for farmers, old people, and the military industrial complex: all reliable die-hard Republicans at the ballot-box, and therefore ''deserving'' of socialized spending.

[downtowner97]

What vehicle launched this "bus-sized" satellite?

[ubrew12]

downtowner97 said: "What vehicle launched this "bus-sized" satellite?"
Titan

[j-whitman]

On the side of the bus are the words - Jesus Saves

It''s the Ruptrue

[payasyougo]

Odds are it will not hit where it would do the most good.

[j-whitman]

payasyougo,,,, Yep, so much for the power of prayer

[klingon69]

Wasn''t this storyline used in the original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD movie?