As if we didn't have enough to worry about

[Gumby]

Life has simply been too good recently, what with our financial system crashing and all. Now we get this as well
Russian, U.S. satellites collide in space - CNN.com

As I understand the situation, this could have cascading effects that would increase the danger, and hence cost, of any future space launches.

 

[Urchina]

I think it's going to be an increasing issue, since the amount of space junk in orbit around the Earth is increasing. Defunct satellites, pieces of old rockets, and all sorts of other crap are left up there because getting them out of orbit is prohibitively expensive.

This is the picture I remember, and here's a post about it as well, though I can't vouch for the accuracy of his numbers:

Space Junk in Earths Orbit and Dead Satellites

 

[ziggy29]

That's as good a reason as any for the Dow to be down another 200+.

 

[ls99]

Any alien space travelers better be able thread the needle to visit [-]scare the hell out of[/-] earthlings.

Edit add: On second thought, with that much crap in orbit, it would seem like a lot worse on the surface.

 

[Rustic23]

In the Air Force during combat operations we use to say we survived because of the 'Big Sky, Little Bullet' theory. It worked most of the time!

 

[MichaelB]

YouTube - Galaxy Song - Monty Python - The Meaning Of Life

 

[Zoocat]

Our government can't afford the space program anymore and we won't be sending up more space craft any time soon (but I could be wrong!). so what difference does it make what crap is flying around out there?

 

[Khan]

Our government can't afford the space program anymore and we won't be sending up more space craft any time soon (but I could be wrong!). so what difference does it make what crap is flying around out there?

Maybe we need the weather satellites, GPS satellites, TV/radio satellites...

 

[Zoocat]

Maybe we need the weather satellites, GPS satellites, TV/radio satellites...

Good point! I admit I'm an ignoramous about such things.

 

[ls99]

Maybe we need the weather satellites, GPS satellites, TV/radio satellites...

No need for any of that fancy stuff. Bring back the shamans, the deus ex machina, do away with rockets spewing fire and all will be peaceful. Write letters long hand, deliver via pony express.

 

[clifp]

Our government can't afford the space program anymore and we won't be sending up more space craft any time soon (but I could be wrong!). so what difference does it make what crap is flying around out there?

Boy I am going the complete opposite direction. I think we need to organize Space Days, where lots of volunteers go up and clean up all the debris. I am not sure if we should bring the stuff back to earth or pack it together and send it out to the sun to get incinerated.

Of course it would be expensive to send volunteers to Space for a day, but think of all the jobs it would create. .

I'd definitely volunteer.

 

[Nords]

In the Air Force during combat operations we use to say we survived because of the 'Big Sky, Little Bullet' theory. It worked most of the time!

Like driving a golf ball through a leafy tree, right?

Of course it would be expensive to send volunteers to Space for a day, but think of all the jobs it would create. .
I'd definitely volunteer.

I'm gonna wait until someone explains how they match velocity vectors-- it sounds like we'd need one helluva net to catch all that debris.

 

[unclemick]

You know - back in the day when I played with gooey sticky stuff at an evil place called w*^k - they had this Phd blow holes with 'da rail gun' (nickname) in these panels representing proposed to be Space Station walls.

Went over to the lab and watched em fire teeny tiny bits of AL thru these test panels - made really big holes.

Man those Phd's had all the fun.

We knew it was coming for a long time.

heh heh heh -

 

[slouch]

we won't be sending up more space craft any time soon (but I could be wrong!)

• NASA Plans Lunar Outpost - washingtonpost.com
  

  The first test flight of the Ares rocket is scheduled for 2009, and the first manned flight of the Orion is scheduled for 2014.

• NASA says it Will colonize the Moon by 2024
  

  NASA has announced plans to colonize the moon by 2024. The plan is to have permanent staffing at one of the moons poles, most likely the southern pole as it's the better candidate to generate Solar Power and to mine near "dark areas"

The NASA moon colonization plans are a precursor to the first manned mission to mars. Arguably the US is reengaging in the space race primarily due to India, China, and Japan's announced plans for permanent lunar bases in the 2030 time frame.

 

[Gpond]

Iran is now launching satellites. If countries are not taking to each other it makes you wonder how often these collisions will happen.

Wonder if the Russia/U.S. satellite collision had anything to do with the missile shield around the Ex-U.S.S.R countries? The silent cold war.

 

[Zoocat]

• NASA Plans Lunar Outpost - washingtonpost.com
  
• NASA says it Will colonize the Moon by 2024
  

The NASA moon colonization plans are a precursor to the first manned mission to mars. Arguably the US is reengaging in the space race primarily due to India, China, and Japan's announced plans for permanent lunar bases in the 2030 time frame.

Maybe China and Japan will lend us the money so we can keep up with them in the new space race.