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where could it have possibly gone....was this the result of a suicidal pilot or just accident...it's boggling that we can track anyone anywhere but not a huge p

where could it have possibly gone....was this the result of a suicidal pilot or just accident...it's boggling that we can track anyone anywhere but not a huge plane like this

sohkamyung 11y ago
Tracking, or finding an aircraft over a large ocean area is still not possible. As this article says[1], "About 85,000 square kilometres of the 120,000 square kilometre search zone has been covered so far." But if you match that against the map of the search area, you will see that even that huge search area covers only a narrow strip of ocean. The plane may be huge, but compared to the earth, it is very, very small. [1] https://theconversation.com/two-years-on-since-flight-mh370-disappeared-and-the-search-has-found-nothing-what-now-55698 https://theconversation.com/two-years-on-since-flight-mh370-...
- jorgecurio 11y ago
  what makes it so difficult is it the underwater currents that carry the fragments below the sea? don't we have some xray view on our spy satellites?
  - ars 11y ago
    Not entirely sure what you are asking, but A: No we have no xray view on spy satellites, and B: X-Rays can not go through water. A: Is impossible - no satellite has enough energy to illuminate anything, they all use the sun for light and just take pictures. B: Water blocks almost all forms of light, you need sonar to see anything under there.
    - minipci1321 11y ago
      A: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOPAZ_nuclear_reactor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOPAZ_nuclear_reactor
      - hga 11y ago
        Weaponized, 1967-88: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A Which used a fast fission (!!!) reactor (i.e. not quite a nuclear kaboom operating mode). More generally: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_radar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_radar
      - PhasmaFelis 11y ago
        "Although the test program was considered a success, no plans were pursued to fly any of the reactors." Edit: I misunderstood the wiki article. Carry on.
        hga 11y ago
        That's just the TOPAZ-II model, the 2 of the earlier model flew, and 31 for the Soviet's military radar satellites. That Russia was willing to work with us and share the TOPAZ-II is yet another sign of how much things changed after the Evil Empire fell.
    - zipwitch 11y ago
      Also, much of the MH370 search area includes some very rugged seafloor. If or when it sank, the wreckage may be located in the underwater equivalent of very mountainous terrain. Just like above water, it's a lot easier to find something in the desert (abyssal plain) than in the mountains. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-flight-mh370-new-images-from-underwater-search-mission-reveal-scale-of-challenge-in-locating-9758665.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-flight-...
    - hydrogen18 11y ago
      While I appreciate your point A for optical wavelengths, space based radar is definitely a thing. Optical wavelengths are undoubtedly more popular however. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasat

where could it have possibly gone....was this the result of a suicidal pilot or just accident...it's boggling that we can track anyone anywhere but not a huge plane like this

sohkamyung 11y ago

Tracking, or finding an aircraft over a large ocean area is still not possible. As this article says[1], "About 85,000 square kilometres of the 120,000 square kilometre search zone has been covered so far." But if you match that against the map of the search area, you will see that even that huge search area covers only a narrow strip of ocean. The plane may be huge, but compared to the earth, it is very, very small. [1] https://theconversation.com/two-years-on-since-flight-mh370-disappeared-and-the-search-has-found-nothing-what-now-55698 https://theconversation.com/two-years-on-since-flight-mh370-...

jorgecurio 11y ago
what makes it so difficult is it the underwater currents that carry the fragments below the sea? don't we have some xray view on our spy satellites?
- ars 11y ago
  Not entirely sure what you are asking, but A: No we have no xray view on spy satellites, and B: X-Rays can not go through water. A: Is impossible - no satellite has enough energy to illuminate anything, they all use the sun for light and just take pictures. B: Water blocks almost all forms of light, you need sonar to see anything under there.
  - minipci1321 11y ago
    A: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOPAZ_nuclear_reactor https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOPAZ_nuclear_reactor
    - hga 11y ago
      Weaponized, 1967-88: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US-A Which used a fast fission (!!!) reactor (i.e. not quite a nuclear kaboom operating mode). More generally: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_radar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space-based_radar
    - PhasmaFelis 11y ago
      "Although the test program was considered a success, no plans were pursued to fly any of the reactors." Edit: I misunderstood the wiki article. Carry on.
      - hga 11y ago
        That's just the TOPAZ-II model, the 2 of the earlier model flew, and 31 for the Soviet's military radar satellites. That Russia was willing to work with us and share the TOPAZ-II is yet another sign of how much things changed after the Evil Empire fell.
  - zipwitch 11y ago
    Also, much of the MH370 search area includes some very rugged seafloor. If or when it sank, the wreckage may be located in the underwater equivalent of very mountainous terrain. Just like above water, it's a lot easier to find something in the desert (abyssal plain) than in the mountains. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-flight-mh370-new-images-from-underwater-search-mission-reveal-scale-of-challenge-in-locating-9758665.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/missing-flight-...
  - hydrogen18 11y ago
    While I appreciate your point A for optical wavelengths, space based radar is definitely a thing. Optical wavelengths are undoubtedly more popular however. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasat https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasat