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by A United States government intelligence satellite that may contain hazardous materials, has reportedly lost power and is expected to fall to Earth, an official spokesman said on Saturday, January 26. An email message by Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the National Security Council, claimed that "Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation. Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this may cause." The satellite in question weighs approximately 20,000 pounds and is the size of a small bus. In recent years, NASA has safely brought defunct satellites back back to Earth. In 2000, the space agency maneuvered the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory to a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Though no specific actions are being publicized at this time, the use of missiles may be considered amongst the potential options.
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... that classified items within the satellite would be designed with some soft of destruction mechanism either through remote (in this case lost) or physical means. Wouldn't it make sense to design it such that particular impacts, like falling from space, would free a release mechanism to crush circuitry or data? Or even design it to burn.
I don't see there being that much risk of debris considering the Soviets were able to bring Mir crashing to Earth in a beautiful fireball. True, they still had control of the thing (sort of) whereas this satellite is doing its own thing. But the bulk of it ought to just burn off in the atmosphere.
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it landed...... by Anonymous :: NR0 :: on 28 January 2008
..................in my backyard this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!!