Russian Space Probe to Crash to Earth Within Hours
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/russian-space-probe-crash-earth-hours-15364707#.TxLxDJc8zrUThe unmanned Phobos Ground is one of the heaviest and most toxic space derelicts ever to crash to Earth, but space officials and experts say the risks are minimal as its orbit is mostly over water and most of the probe's structure will burn up in the atmosphere anyway.
Russia's space agency Roscosmos said the Phobos-Ground will crash between 1641 and 2105 GMT (11:41 a.m. and 4:05 p.m. EST). It could come down anywhere along the route of its next few orbits, which would include Europe, southeast Asia, Australia and South America. The U.S., Canada and much of Russia are outside the risk zone.
alfredo
(60,075 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)So I can compare the "Russian space junk reentry" that I saw in 1988, that looked nothing like space junk reentering the atmosphere.
To this day I don't believe the official explanation.
alfredo
(60,075 posts)It was so odd. I looked up and it was shaped like a crescent moon. It was like having two moons overhead.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)That was one of his finer moments.
Submariner
(12,509 posts)do me a favor and slam into my car at about Mach 10 would ya? I've got it sitting out in the driveway waitin' for ya.
I can then sell my car and the chunk of Phobos on Ebay and make sumthin' out of this spectacular crash.
Hope to see ya on the Today Show with the crash details tomorrow mornin'.
Brother Buzz
(36,463 posts)tawadi
(2,110 posts)montex
(93 posts)Hydrazine is some nasty stuff but it is also extremely volatile. There is no way it will survive the heat of reentry and the tanks that contain it will explode long before it gets anywhere near land. If you're worried that 12 tons of hydrazine disbursed in the atmosphere will harm anyone, don't. It is so reactive that it will bond instantly with any oxygen molecules it encounters and become stable and inert.
itsrobert
(14,157 posts)Where did you obtain your knowledge of the subject?
FarPoint
(12,437 posts)Welcome to DU.
Good to know.
tridim
(45,358 posts)tridim
(45,358 posts)January 15, 2012 - 18:45 UTC:
***PHOBOS-GRUNT HAS RE-ENTERED***
Entry Time: ~17:45 UTC
Entry Location: Pacific Ocean
http://www.spaceflight101.com/phobos-grunt-re-entry-information.html
Bucky
(54,065 posts)Phew, that was close...