North Korea's Satellite Is Tumbling Out Of Control [View all]

[MinneapolisMatt]

Here’s something troubling to start your afternoon: North Korea launched a new satellite into space earlier this week and now it's apparently tumbling out of control amid all the other satellites that the world relies on.

That’s not really all that unexpected, but after successfully reaching orbital space on Monday there was some degree of hope--even in the midst of condemnation for what the global community sees as a thinly veiled ballistic missile test--that North Korean engineers have a clue what they are doing. It’s becoming increasingly clear that they do not.

The satellite has an unstable trajectory, American officials have said. It could come crashing back to Earth. And there’s a remote chance it could collide with something else in orbit. More on this as it develops, but for now it looks like North Korea’s space program is off to quite a shaky start.

Link: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-12/north-koreas-satellite-tumbling-out-control

Also:

Confusion over North Korean 'satellite' amid US claims object is 'tumbling out of control'

Speaking to NBC news a US official said that the device, which was launched at 7.49 p.m. ET on Wednesday, had an unstable trajectory and could crash land back to earth.

The official also confirmed the object is some kind of space vehicle, but that they haven't established what it is supposed to do.

Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/confusion-over-north-korean-satellite-amid-us-claims-object-is-tumbling-out-of-control-8412857.html