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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNorth Korea's Satellite Is Tumbling Out Of Control
Heres something troubling to start your afternoon: North Korea launched a new satellite into space earlier this week and now it's apparently tumbling out of control amid all the other satellites that the world relies on.
Thats not really all that unexpected, but after successfully reaching orbital space on Monday there was some degree of hope--even in the midst of condemnation for what the global community sees as a thinly veiled ballistic missile test--that North Korean engineers have a clue what they are doing. Its becoming increasingly clear that they do not.
The satellite has an unstable trajectory, American officials have said. It could come crashing back to Earth. And theres a remote chance it could collide with something else in orbit. More on this as it develops, but for now it looks like North Koreas space program is off to quite a shaky start.
Link: http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2012-12/north-koreas-satellite-tumbling-out-control
Also:
Confusion over North Korean 'satellite' amid US claims object is 'tumbling out of control'
Speaking to NBC news a US official said that the device, which was launched at 7.49 p.m. ET on Wednesday, had an unstable trajectory and could crash land back to earth.
The official also confirmed the object is some kind of space vehicle, but that they haven't established what it is supposed to do.
Link: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/confusion-over-north-korean-satellite-amid-us-claims-object-is-tumbling-out-of-control-8412857.html
Xithras
(16,191 posts)The point of the launch was to demonstrate their launch capabilities, and little else. North Korea's engineers lack both the technical skills and the electronics equipment needed to actually put a useable and modern satellite into orbit. My guess is that this particular launch is more akin to Sputnik. It wasn't really designed to do much of anything except make a statement.
The satellite could be a washing machine wrapped in tinfoil for all we know. They didn't need to put anything "functional" up there to make their point.
Buns_of_Fire
(17,185 posts)It'll just squirrel around up there for a little while and unfortunately burn up on re-entry. Just as intended.
Of course, if the "satellite" tumbles into an existing functional satellite and takes it out, I figure that'd be fine with them, too.
TheMightyFavog
(13,770 posts)At least the rocket didn't asplode this time.
Mangoman
(100 posts)They claim the US is wrong