Chinese rocket debris expected to hit earth on May 8th, but nobody knows where

[TiMSport]

Key points:

*Estimated landing time is Saturday May 8th
*The location of the debris will be known only hours before its reentry
*The rocket is traveling at a speed of 18,000mph
*Rocket is in orbit and will be falling back to earth uncontrolled

https://www.spacecom.mil/News/Articl...pace-trackorg/

[Joekerr]

Originally Posted by TiMSport

*Estimated landing time is Saturday May 8th

I like how you used the words "landing time" rather than words like "impact", or "crash".

[infinitekidM2C]

Meh it'll land in the ocean. The sky isn't falling brahs.

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by infinitekidM2C

Meh it'll land in the ocean. The sky isn't falling brahs.

Actually that is not known, but based on probability, perhaps since the ocean covers 70% of earth's surface. Most of the debris will probably burn up before impacting earth but there is a history of some getting through. China also has a history of this. When they launched another rocket of the same class debris ended up hitting populated areas in the Ivory Coast.

[Lady Jane]

Debris don't bother me.

[JP10]

Hope it takes me out, one of those days lol

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by Lady Jane

Debris don't bother me.

It shouldn't bother you, since Canada is north of 41.5 degrees latitude and therefore is not in the orbital path:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/chin...ntry-1.6013654

I can say for 100% certainty that it is going to crash on my house this weekend...because I just washed my car!!!!!

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

It shouldn't bother you, since Canada is north of 41.5 degrees latitude and therefore is not in the orbital path:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/chin...ntry-1.6013654

I can say for 100% certainty that it is going to crash on my house this weekend...because I just washed my car!!!!!

LOL. Normally it's just bird poop but in your case, well that's pretty special.

[Fly320s]

Who has the pool for the crash location?

$1 per square mile. Largest piece to hit the Earth is the piece that counts.

[Sassicaia]

Hopefully it lands on Xi.

[XutvJet]

[dreamingat30fps]

They can land a go kart carrying a helicopter on fucking Mars but they have no idea where this thing will land?

[M_Six]

Well when it misses all of us, we can go post in the "Today was a good day..." thread.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Well when it misses all of us, we can go post in the "Today was a good day..." thread.

...or takes out Brooklyn.....

[3.0L]

I think that most man-made orbiting items (in decaying orbits) burn up in the atmosphere before hitting the ground. As to the larger orbiting items, their size decreases somewhat as they burn during re-entry.

So who knows.

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by 3.0L

I think that most man-made orbiting items (in decaying orbits) burn up in the atmosphere before hitting the ground. As to the larger orbiting items, their size decreases somewhat as they burn during re-entry.

So who knows.

Yes, generally that is true but we just can't be sure as there have been cases of debris actually hitting populated areas. This won't be the first time China has done this either.

[stein_325i]

I'll be sure to use this as an excuse to get off work.

[dreamingat30fps]

I would've thought the US has the ability to track it and figure out where it's going.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by dreamingat30fps

I would've thought the US has the ability to track it and figure out where it's going.

If you knew a little about orbital decay and the number of environmental variables at play, you would understand why nobody knows where along its orbital path this *uncontrolled* object will decide to lawn dart itself. My guess is that they have a prediction within 3-4 orbits as of now. The thing is moving over 17,000 MPH as I write this, in an elliptical orbit ~100 miles high, and with an orbital period of 89 minutes to make one lap of the Earth.

https://www.n2yo.com/?s=48275

If someone is starting a Maidenhead locator grid pool, I'll take GL because there's nothing out there but the fishes to hit:



Remember, latitudes A-D and O-R are absolutely out of play because of this object's orbital inclination.....

[TiMSport]

^^Orbital Decay Engineer^^

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by TiMSport

^^Orbital Decay Engineer^^

No. Just someone who was chained to a 1970's computer in high school, and forced to enter daily Keplerian element updates for two dozen objects in orbit and then print all above-horizon orbital passes for the day.....

[TiMSport]

Originally Posted by vreihen16

No. Just someone who was chained to a 1970's computer in high school, and forced to enter daily Keplerian element updates for two dozen objects in orbit and then print all above-horizon orbital passes for the day.....

Lol. If you were truly using something that looks like this computer from the 70s I would be seriously impressed. Actually I'm impressed no matter what because I don't know jack about Keplerian elements.