Satellite 'the size of a bus' could crash to Earth

A large spy satellite is out of control and could crash to Earth in the next few weeks, a US government official has warned.

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The satellite could land anywhere on the planet and may contain hazardous materials, the unnamed source told the AP news wire.
The satellite is the size of a small bus


It is understood that American politicians and world leaders are being kept abreast of the situation.

In response to the reports Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said: "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 satellite may cause."

He refused to discuss specifics, such as whether the satellite might be destroyed with a missile. But such a move is considered unlikely by experts as it would create a rain of debris which could cause more widespread damage.

While the US government is yet to release any information about the craft, John Pike of the defence research group GlobalSecurity.org said that it is most likely a photo-reconnaissance satellite, weighing as much as 20,000lb (9,000kg) and the size of a bus.

It is believed to contain hydrazine, a common rocket fuel, which is hazardous to humans.

This would not be the first time a large man-made satellite has de-powered and crashed uncontrollably into the atmosphere. The largest was in 1979, when Skylab, a 78-ton abandoned space station, lost control and fell from orbit.

It fell apart on re-entry, with the debris crashing harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across an uninhabited part of Western Australia.

Source

Run for ur life guys

 

Already posted.

 

I bet it hits my car or house. Dans luck!

 

i started run

 

I'm guessing re-entry into the atmosphere would break it up into much smaller pieces.

 

I have started running! Please tell me where should i hide myself

 

lol... where should i hide

 

I guess some terrorist is waiting to grab as much scrap of this as possible and build himself the ULTIMATE WEAPON OF MASS DESTRUCTION FROM SPACE!

 

I hope it falls in an ocean or something. D:

 

They better let me know if it's heading towards my neighborhood.

 

Hide behind your legs...opps you can't hide behind your legs hide behind your dog's legs.

 

its very interested to see

 

I hope it does burn out during re-entry or lands somewhere safely, I don't want to think what will happen if it does hit a very populated area.

 

Reminds me of "SkyLab" falling south-west of Australia in the 70's.

 

I hope the location will be an uninhabited one...for everyone sake!

 

lol.. I pray It would fall into Oceans..

 

Didn't skylab kill an australian cow or something?

 

during 79 the skylab was made to fall in Indian Ocean