Latest Breaking News

Scairp

(2,749 posts)

34. I'm pretty sure that isn't possible

Thu Dec 13, 2012, 02:56 AM

Dec 2012

I'm no physicist but the thing is going about 15-20 thousand miles an hour AND out of control, not even a stable orbit, so I don't think there is any human technology in existence to even attempt something like that. All the rest of the world can do is track it and hope it lands in the ocean or in an unpopulated area like the middle of the Sahara. Who knows what it is anyway. It might not even be a working satellite in the sense that they put it up there for communication or some nefarious purpose, just a hunk of junk they shot into space for the hell of it. Hopefully it will mostly burn up in the atmosphere and there will only be small pieces to look out for.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

76 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

North Korean satellite 'tumbling out of control,' US officials say [View all] davidn3600 Dec 2012 OP

Where is McCain on this? I haven't seen him on TV blaming Obama yet or wanting doc03 Dec 2012 #1

I don't want to know where he is. Amonester Dec 2012 #72

Niiiice! Hope it was nuclear powered! Poll_Blind Dec 2012 #2

We should shoot it down to make sure it doesn't crash in a populated area slackmaster Dec 2012 #3

Interesting question. I think the folks at NORAD are probably trying to get... Poll_Blind Dec 2012 #4

It doesn't work like that. joshcryer Dec 2012 #11

The windage is a challenge, but I'm going to break out my telescopee and 50 caliber target rifle... slackmaster Dec 2012 #14

I do not believe that will work as planned, octothorpe Dec 2012 #19

I have a really nice Leupold scope, and the rifle is Lafette-mounted on a German machine gun tripod slackmaster Dec 2012 #21

It's a really good tripod, tho ChairmanAgnostic Dec 2012 #22

... cntrfthrs Dec 2012 #28

Which would henceforth Rain Mcloud Dec 2012 #30

This is a great idea ... I'm willing to help ... JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2012 #38

+1 (NT) reACTIONary Dec 2012 #16

You're close. Earth orbital velocity is about 17.5K mph ......... oldhippie Dec 2012 #52

I'd be willing to be it has no thrusters or much else jberryhill Dec 2012 #54

I'm pretty sure that isn't possible Scairp Dec 2012 #34

It's been done. Angleae Dec 2012 #36

And most of the the debris AlexSatan Dec 2012 #48

I don't think any country has that capability. /nt Ash_F Dec 2012 #39

Both the US and China have done it. jeff47 Dec 2012 #56

Didn't those home in on a signal? Ash_F Dec 2012 #66

No - it did not hack89 Dec 2012 #68

No, I distinctly remember this during the Bush II years. Ash_F Dec 2012 #69

Here is the entire sequence hack89 Dec 2012 #70

Radar is that accurate jeff47 Dec 2012 #74

In a STABLE orbit Scairp Dec 2012 #71

I'd be stunned if it was big enough to reach the ground should it fall anyway. (nt) Posteritatis Dec 2012 #40

+1 jberryhill Dec 2012 #55

Their "satellite" is probably a box with portraits of Kim Il-Sung & Kim Jong-Il inside jsr Dec 2012 #5

Not portraits. A picture. This picture: DeSwiss Dec 2012 #35

Looks like Han.... sendero Dec 2012 #42

Mods, lock this, sex thread Throckmorton Dec 2012 #44

Their purpose was not really to put a satellite into orbit anyway, but to show the long range pampango Dec 2012 #6

That would be a good assessment, imo. joshcryer Dec 2012 #13

They surely can hit "anywhere." hunter Dec 2012 #25

This is certainly true, but laser guided systems are ancient. joshcryer Dec 2012 #26

Hey, they can hit their targets! Scootaloo Dec 2012 #29

With their skills, they may well hit themselves! marshall Dec 2012 #47

Agreed: the 30,000 ft/sec or so of Delta Vee Cobalt-60 Dec 2012 #15

that heaven05 Dec 2012 #7

Oops. marble falls Dec 2012 #8

Fuck Iran and North Korea. jerseyjack Dec 2012 #9

oh dear biohazard9550 Dec 2012 #10

Nuclear poliferation for everyone! joshcryer Dec 2012 #12

NASA released this image today. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2012 #17

i dont think thats real octothorpe Dec 2012 #20

No it is. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2012 #24

I can see the pixels Scootaloo Dec 2012 #31

. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2012 #18

Admiral Ackbar absolutely had to show up in this thread. longship Dec 2012 #33

Lots of satellites have re-entered the atmosphere and crashed over the years daleo Dec 2012 #23

The Country That Couldn't Shoot Straight Warren Religion Dec 2012 #27

$5 says it's a wood carving ArcticFox Dec 2012 #32

Good excuse to launch another rocket Franker65 Dec 2012 #37

With all the world ssnctions and 'starving' people for any nation to accomplish this is kelliekat44 Dec 2012 #41

The most realistic scenario is that North Korea opens up their economy like China did 30 yrs. ago. Selatius Dec 2012 #45

North Korea holds its own fate in its hands. If they were to open up their society, then Politicub Dec 2012 #63

North Korea's accomplishing stuff like this *because* of those starving people Posteritatis Dec 2012 #65

The US needs to shut the fuck up Mangoman Dec 2012 #43

Of course DPRK has every right to launch rockets...until they leave DPRK airspace, of course. Poll_Blind Dec 2012 #46

What about our satellites, that leave our airspace? oldhippie Dec 2012 #49

Oh, anyone can object to our satellites if they wish. Do they? nt Poll_Blind Dec 2012 #51

The major powers had that particular discussion a few decades back Posteritatis Dec 2012 #64

Yes I feel that way Mangoman Dec 2012 #50

apologizing for NK? nice.. biohazard9550 Dec 2012 #57

Why is it when someone considers the point of view of others they are "apologizing?" nt kelliekat44 Dec 2012 #58

fair enough, i suppose biohazard9550 Dec 2012 #67

Just as dangerous to themselves than anyone else TimKeller Dec 2012 #53

Then how do you view the United States of America Mangoman Dec 2012 #59

When the Soviets were beating our asses in the 50's, yes NickB79 Dec 2012 #61

Politics aside, the only way North Korea can get their shit together is to continue test rockets and octothorpe Dec 2012 #75

They're as dangerous to themselves as the rest of us, destroying life on this planet everyday, Amonester Dec 2012 #73

Wonder if NASA can track it and we can see it on their website? Lint Head Dec 2012 #60

The officials said that it is indeed some kind of space vehicle but they still haven�t been able to Javaman Dec 2012 #62

I wonder if anyone will get this d_r Dec 2012 #76