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Spy Satellite Falling Out of the Sky



First there was that 2007 TU 24 asteroid that’s aiming for Earth. And if that’s not bad enough, there’s now another danger: a spy satellite that’s falling out of orbit and could hit North America in late February or early March!

That’s Air Force Gen. Victor "Gene" Renuart Jr., who, all kidding aside, is acknowledging the danger:

Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads of U.S. Northern Command, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the size of the satellite suggests that some number of pieces will not burn up as the orbiting vehicle re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and will hit the ground.

"We’re aware that this satellite is out there," Renuart said. "We’re aware it is a fairly substantial size. And we know there is at least some percentage that it could land on ground as opposed to in the water."

A U.S. official confirmed that the spy satellite is designated by the military as US 193. It was launched in December 2006 but almost immediately lost power and cannot be controlled. It carried a sophisticated and secret imaging sensor but the satellite’s central computer failed shortly after launch. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.

Renuart added that, "As it looks like it might re-enter into the North American area," then the U.S. military along with the Homeland Security Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will either have to deal with the impact or assist Canadian or Mexican authorities.

Link - Thanks Mr. Lonka!


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Posted on January 31, 2008 at 8:34 pm by Alex
Category: Weapons & War



12 comments to "Spy Satellite Falling Out of the Sky"

  • stacyj
    January 31st, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    I read about this a few days ago and it -still- weirds me out - I know this is morbid and I know the chances of it happening are infinitesimally slim, but every time I hear about this satellite plummeting towards earth I can’t help but wonder if one of us reading about it today might be the person it lands on tomorrow … and somehow the fact that Homeland Security is one the case doesn’t exactly reassure me …

    Remember everybody - duck and cover! ;)

  • Taylor
    January 31st, 2008 at 9:28 pm

    This is just the sort of thing that triggers zombie attacks. Space viruses and whatnot. Stock up on supplies, people.

  • VonSkippy
    January 31st, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    If I was Maggie O’Connell’s boyfriend, I’d be worried.

    //too obscure?

  • Rose
    January 31st, 2008 at 10:33 pm

    Wonder if there’s a connection to: Beijing secretly fires lasers to disable US satellites.
    http://tinyurl.com/qxbgq

  • Lasse
    February 1st, 2008 at 6:03 am

    I think a zombie attack is imminent. Time to dust off the old crow bar.

  • nick
    February 1st, 2008 at 6:28 am

    Maggie O’Connell?

  • Sid Morrison
    February 1st, 2008 at 8:49 am

    Sounds like President Ryan might need to send John Clark and the Rainbow Team out on a mission to recover it.

  • pooka
    February 1st, 2008 at 12:13 pm

    @VonSkippy: LOL!

    Maggie O’Connell - a character on the canceled TV series Northern Exposure. All of her boyfriends met with strange deaths.

    One of them, Rick, got nailed by a satellite. I think they pretty much had to bury it with him.

  • Geoduck
    February 1st, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Paraphrasing..
    “Once ze satellites go up, who cares vere zey come down..”

  • estapler
    February 1st, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    General Hammond!

    I liked the Clancy reference too.

  • B-man
    February 1st, 2008 at 6:09 pm

    I love this:
    “The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.”
    Ummm…I guess that means the information about his identity is secret?? Sure can’t be the Secret info he just gave out about the satellite!

  • Alex
    February 2nd, 2008 at 1:27 am

    Very interesting link, Rose. Thanks.

    And yes, estapler, he does look like General Hammond.


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