Sep 08
Tags: Mission to Planet Earth, satellite, space junk, STS-48 crew, UARS
NASA’s first major satellite as part of its “Mission to Planet Earth” program is now, ironically, on a much more literal mission back to the planet.
The 6.5-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) will return to Earth in the next several weeks, according to NASA. At least some pieces of the spacecraft, which is 35 feet long and 15 feet wide, are expected to survive the fiery plunge into the atmosphere and reach the ground.
“It is too early to say exactly when UARS will re-enter and what geographic area may be affected,” NASA said in a statement posted on Wednesday (Sept. 7) to its website.
More here
Jul 01
Tags: buy, enemies, pantagon, satellite, spy, yahoo news
WASHINGTON – The Pentagon will buy and operate one or two commercial imagery satellites and plans to design and build another with more sophisticated spying capabilities, according to government and private industry officials.
The satellites could spy on enemy troop movements, spot construction at suspected nuclear sites and alert commanders to militant training camps.
The Broad Area Space-Based Imagery Collector satellite system, or BASIC, will cost between $2 billion and $4 billion. It would add to the secret constellation of satellites that now circle the Earth, producing still images that are pieced together into one large mosaic.
A single satellite can visit one spot on Earth once or twice every day. BASIC’s additional satellites will allow multiple passes over the same sites, alerting U.S. government users to potential trouble, humanitarian crises or natural disasters like floods.
From Yahoo! News.
