From: | NewsProfiles@aol.net |
Title: | CHINESE SPY SATELLITE TO CRASH TUESDAY |
Source: | Reuter |
Date: | March 11, 1996 |
LONDON (Reuter) - A Chinese spy satellite tumbling out of
control toward Earth will probably crash in the early hours of
Tuesday, Britain's Defense Ministry said Monday.
The satellite was extremely unlikely to hit any populated
area and could burn up before it hit the ground, it said.
``The latest estimate is 0726 (GMT, 2:26 EST) tomorrow,''
said a spokesman for the ministry, which has taken over official
monitoring of the satellite from astronomers. ``But that is
strictly an estimate, plus or minus three hours.''
The spokesman said the satellite was very unlikely to hit
people or buildings.
``Chances are it will come down in the southern hemisphere
and the chances of it landing in a densely populated area
anywhere in the world and causing death and injury are extremely
remote,'' he said.
``Given the vast ratio of sea to land area, the chances are
that it will land in the sea.''
that it will land in the sea.''
Insurers reassured homeowners they would be covered if it
crashed through their roofs -- countries that launch spacecraft
promise to pay for any damage they cause.
The satellite failed 10 days after it was launched in
October 1993 as part of a Chinese military program, aviation
experts said. Retro-rockets designed to send it straight down to
China instead spun it into an uncontrollable orbit.
The satellite, which weighs more than two tons and is the
size of a small car, is being tracked by the U.S. Space Command,
the European Space Agency and Britain's Defense Research Agency
as it tumbles out of control.
Scientists estimate that the 4,500 pound oak-panelled
satellite will hit the ground at 400 miles per hour, if it does
not burn up first.
It could create a crater 30 yards wide and destroy anything
within 100 yards, scientists estimate.
``It may well burn up on re-entry,'' the Defense Ministry
spokesman said. ``It is designed to be a recoverable capsule so
it is designed to withstand re-entry. But the angle of re-entry
is important and we don't know what that will be.''
British Home Office (interior ministry) officials have
planned emergency measures in case the satellite hits Britain.
It will pass over Northern Europe every one and a half hours in
its final orbits.
The U.S. space agency NASA estimates there are 7,000
``substantial'' objects, such as satellites, in low earth
orbits. As they drag through the atmosphere they are normally
destroyed.
The Skylab space station crashed in remote western Australia
in 1979 after speculation that it would destroy a city.
In 1962, a test launch of a prototype for the Saturn V
In 1962, a test launch of a prototype for the Saturn V
crashed in Cuba. A cow died (presumably of fright) and was given
a full state funeral as a victim of imperialist aggression.