Another satellite is supposed to drop on us...

[Undead Dragon King]

By all estimates, within the next 24-48 hours another defunct 2-ton satellite will come careening down from space and smash into earth.

What are your thoughts about it, especially in light of the fact that its not been too long since the last large satellite has crashed?

Earth has 70% ocean cover, but I'd heard that portions of the last satellite ripped up parts of the northeastern U.S./ southwestern Canada.

Personally, I think this situation is a win-win. The chances of you getting crushed by the debris are amazingly small, but if a fireball of molten metal from space ends up crushing you, not only will death be quick and relatively painless, but you will also be forever remembered as "that death-by-satellite" person. I can't think of a better way to go.

What are your thoughts? Should we design better satellites? What about the rest of the space junk orbiting Earth? Is this whole thing overblown?

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

Orbital bombardment of enemy countries! It's the perfect plan - you plan to declare war on a nation many decades from now, launch a lot of a satellites, and when you declare war, have the satellites begin raining down on the enemy country's capital city.

This will only stop when the country surrenders. If you run out of satellites, then it's time for the ISS to begin re-entry.

 

[Knight Captain Kerr]

Things fall to earth all the time. You would have to have a really bad day for one of them to hit you.

 

[JesterRaiin]

What are your thoughts?

Back in ancient times they called it "weather baloon effect" but what do i know ?

 

[DeadlyYellow]

My answer is a resounding Meh.

There's only one satellite that I'd worry about falling on us, and that's most improbable in my lifetime. But I keep an ocarina handy just in case.

 

[Irridium]

Eh, it happens. I live in the northeastern US. It's mostly woodland up here. So I'm not too worried.

My answer is a resounding Meh.

There's only one satellite that I'd worry about falling on us, and that's most improbable in my lifetime. But I keep an ocarina handy just in case.

Also giants.

 

[McMullen]

Orbital bombardment of enemy countries! It's the perfect plan - you plan to declare war on a nation many decades from now, launch a lot of a satellites, and when you declare war, have the satellites begin raining down on the enemy country's capital city.

This will only stop when the country surrenders. If you run out of satellites, then it's time for the ISS to begin re-entry.

Those would be some really expensive missiles...

 

[adderseal]

Orbital bombardment of enemy countries! It's the perfect plan - you plan to declare war on a nation many decades from now, launch a lot of a satellites, and when you declare war, have the satellites begin raining down on the enemy country's capital city.

This will only stop when the country surrenders. If you run out of satellites, then it's time for the ISS to begin re-entry.

The 'Civilization V' model of world government.

 

[ShindoL Shill]

It is a goverment cover-up. You see, they make you think it is a satellite so you will think it is an alien craft so you don't find out it is just a satellite.

xkcd was right! to the tinfoil-hat shop.

OT: so... i get to see more pretty space lights? cool.

 

[Esotera]

I really hope it hits something interesting, without harming something. Like if it hit a Wall Street building everyone would interpret as a sign from God or something like that, just anything to break up the monotony of life.

OT: we don't need to design better satellites, just better plans for actually keeping them in orbit for a set period of time, or flying them off into deep space when we don't want them anymore.

 

[Pinkamena]

It's no big deal. Satelittes have always been disposed of like this. They burn up and disintegrate when entering the atmosphere.

 

[SecretsOfMoon]

I don't get what the fuss is all about, I mean no one's ever died from falling space debris. It's about as likely as dying from cosmic rays or a toenail clipping accident. Although you'd be well famous if you were to die from being run over by a satellite, or getting fried by cosmic rays for that matter.

 

[Baron_BJ]

I can't think of a better way to go.

I can think of a much better way to go than being crushed by a flaming hunk of steel.

Death. By. Snoo-Snoo.