[meteorite-list] Watch out for falling metal, guys with, sunglasses and dark suits

From: Sterling K. Webb <sterling_k_webb_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:32:38 -0600
Message-ID: <021501c86123$c29f5270$a12f4842_at_ATARIENGINE>

Hi, All,

    Speculation spreads from this news in the blogosphere.
The number of Google hits grows exponentially. I found one
delightfully crazy site that speculates (more like hallucinates)
that this satellite was a "comet-killer" designed to both destroy
incoming comets and to alter the orbits of comets so they will
strike designated locations.

    Humans are so inventive. And inevitably, I found also the
suggestion that an "uncontrolled" nuke-carrying re-entry will
"accidentally" take place over Iran. For some people the world
isn't exciting enough.

    Here's an internet history of USA-193:


A report of the satellite's failure back in January 12, 2007:
http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/2007/01/expensive-new-us-spy-satellite.html


Apparently, the decision to let it go was made last August:
http://space.skyrocket.de/index_frame.htm?http://skyrocket.de/space/doc_sdat/nrol-21.htm
    "NROL 21 is the cover-name for one-off classified satellite.
Although nothing is known about the mission, the orbit hints for
an experimental radar reconnaissance satellite.
    A few weeks after launch reports emerged, that ground stations
were unable to communicate with an expensive experimental U.S.
spy satellite launched last year by the U.S. National Reconnaissance
Office (NRO). Efforts were said to be continuing to reestablish
communication with the classified satellite, which cost hundreds
of millions of dollars, but "the prognosis is not great at this point,"
said the defense official, who asked not to be identified.The official
said the problems were substantial and involved multiple systems,
adding that U.S. officials were working to reestablish contact with
the satellite because of the importance of the new technology it was
meant to test and demonstrate. An other source said the satellite
had been described to him as "a comprehensive failure."
    In August 2007 the satellite has been declared a complete loss
and will be allowed to decay from orbit."


An Australian source:
http://www.itwire.com/content/view/16305/1066/
    The launch vehicle, also used for GPS satellites, suggests a
"medium-weight" vehicle, so the reported 20,000 pound weight
was probably accurate, even though it was given in the context
of an old photo recon satellite (much heavier). The "hazardous"
debris would be metallic beryllium and uncombusted hydrazine
thruster fuel.


Radar satellite? Photo satellite?
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Mar-2007/0057.html
    "The experimental L-21 classified satellite, built for the National
Reconnaissance Office (NRO) at a cost of hundreds of millions
of dollars, was launched successfully on December 14 but has been
out of touch since reaching its low-earth orbit.
    Limited data received from the satellite indicated that its on-board
computer tried rebooting several times, but those efforts failed, said
one official, who is knowledgeable about the program and spoke on
condition of anonymity.
    The satellite carried sophisticated cameras to take high-resolution
pictures and test equipment intended for use on the broader Future
Imagery Architecture (FIA) program, in which both Boeing Co. and
Lockheed are involved."


Based this summer 2002 report:
http://www.space.com/news/nasa_plutonium_020724.html
it has been speculated that the vehicle might contain plutonium 238.

    "New demands from the U.S. national security community have
cut into the supply of Plutonium 238 available to be used for upcoming
space science missions, a Department of Energy official said.
    NASA has relied on Plutonium-fueled radioisotope thermal generators
(RTGs) for decades to provide certain interplanetary spacecraft with a
long lasting source of electricity. NASA's Saturn-bound Cassini spacecraft
has multiple RTG's on board and the U.S. space agencys current plans
for a mission to Pluto call for at least one of the Plutonium-packed
batteries.
    Earl Wahlquist, associate director of the Department of Energy's Space
and Defense Power Systems Office, said July 23 that 7 kilograms of
Plutonium 238 slightly more than half of the U.S. inventory is being
reassigned for use by an undisclosed national security agency.
    The 7-kilogram parcel of Plutonium is due to be removed from a
spare RTG the Department of Energy built for NASA as part of the
Cassini and Galileo programs."


> ...stay clear of eBay offers once it has fallen.... ;-)

    I get ALL my plutonium on eBay.




Sterling K. Webb
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Marco Langbroek" <marco.langbroek at wanadoo.nl>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2008 7:56 AM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Watch out for falling metal, guys
with,sunglasses and dark suits


The satellite in question is most likely USA 193 (06-057A, #29651). This is
it's
current orbit:

USA 193
1 29651U 06057A 08022.26925691 0.00105000 00000-0 21306-3 0 07
2 29651 58.5247 160.3977 0003288 53.6760 306.3240 15.98950761 06

Lowest point (perigee) is about 275 km above earth surface currently and it
is
coming down quick (perigee has come down some 80 km in the last year).

This satellite, launched on December 14th 2006, failed right after launch.
Recent imaging by John Locker suggests it is about 4 meter large.

This under the right conditions is an easy to see object: it can reach
magnitude
+1 and because of its low orbit is zipping across the sky very fast,
spectacular
to see. It is an object on my regular tracking list and followed closely by
the
amateur tracking community I partake in. Our tracking has shown no signs
that
the satellite orbit is under control.

Here's some trail images of passes of this satellite over my place:
http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/search/label/USA%20193

Here's John Locker's recent image of the sat:
http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/satcom_transits/USA__193x2.jpg

Although that is only speculation and nothing is known about it, one
potential
point of concern expressed by some given the recent news reports is whether
this
sat has a plutonium energy source or not (see
http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2008/0205.html).

Definitely not an object to desire for a collection of "space artifacts"
without
due caution, so preferably stay clear of eBay offers once it has fallen....
;-)

- Marco

-----
Dr Marco Langbroek - SatTrackCam Leiden, the Netherlands.
e-mail: sattrackcam at wanadoo.nl

Cospar 4353 (Leiden): 52.15412 N, 4.49081 E (WGS84), +0 m ASL
Cospar 4354 (De Wilck): 52.11685 N, 4.56016 E (WGS84), -2 m ASL
SatTrackCam: http://home.wanadoo.nl/marco.langbroek/satcam.html
Station (b)log: http://sattrackcam.blogspot.com
-----

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Received on Sun 27 Jan 2008 03:32:38 PM PST