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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Chinese_anti-satellite_missile_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Chinese_anti-satellite_mis... http://celestrak.com/even

by cmaher 14y ago

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Chinese_anti-satellite_missile_test http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Chinese_anti-satellite_mis... http://celestrak.com/events/asat.asp http://celestrak.com/events/asat.asp The mentioned Chinese test is single-handedly responsible for the vast majority of space debris.

darkarmani 14y ago
I'm sure that's all just anti-PRC propaganda. </sarcasm> I'm waiting for the PRC state workers to astroturf that on in the comments.
- sultezdukes 14y ago
  I'm sure that's all just anti-PRC propaganda. </sarcasm> I'm waiting for the PRC state workers to astroturf that on in the comments. Well, there ya go right below you :) http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5352254 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5352254
ars 14y ago
I wonder if Russia can demand compensation from China. It's not like China wasn't warned - I remember tons of criticism of them before they launched, yet they did it anyway. If you deliberately cause damage, you should be liable.
brownbat 14y ago
> The mentioned Chinese test is single-handedly responsible for the vast majority of space debris. It was widely considered the most prolific single source of debris, but I don't think it's responsible for the majority of space debris. NASA catalogged 900 or so pieces of space debris from the test exceeding 10 cm, expecting the number to climb to about 950 such pieces. [1] In total, NASA tracks about 21,000 pieces of debris over 10 cm. [2] Is largest single source getting confused with majority, or was more debris discovered after the fact? 1. http://www.space.com/3415-china-anti-satellite-test-worrisome-debris-cloud-circles-earth.html http://www.space.com/3415-china-anti-satellite-test-worrisom... 2. http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faqs.html#3 http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faqs.html#3 PS - Not trying to play 50 cent army here, "largest single source" is still definitely bad, just not the same as "vast majority."
- brownbat 14y ago
  Ah, I see now that my parent's sources list it as "largest debris-generating event" (celestrak) and "The test is the largest recorded creation of space debris in history with at least 2,317 pieces of trackable size (golf ball size and larger) and an estimated 150,000 debris particles." (wikipedia). That tracks with what I saw, so take this as just a minor tweak to GP's phrasing. Don't skip that post because of the oversight. The celestrak link offers an incredible HD video simulating the debris cloud and the path of the ISS... it's like an action movie. Great find, so I upvoted.

by cmaher 14y ago

darkarmani 14y ago

I'm sure that's all just anti-PRC propaganda. </sarcasm> I'm waiting for the PRC state workers to astroturf that on in the comments.

sultezdukes 14y ago
I'm sure that's all just anti-PRC propaganda. </sarcasm> I'm waiting for the PRC state workers to astroturf that on in the comments. Well, there ya go right below you :) http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5352254 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=5352254

ars 14y ago

I wonder if Russia can demand compensation from China. It's not like China wasn't warned - I remember tons of criticism of them before they launched, yet they did it anyway. If you deliberately cause damage, you should be liable.

brownbat 14y ago

> The mentioned Chinese test is single-handedly responsible for the vast majority of space debris. It was widely considered the most prolific single source of debris, but I don't think it's responsible for the majority of space debris. NASA catalogged 900 or so pieces of space debris from the test exceeding 10 cm, expecting the number to climb to about 950 such pieces. [1] In total, NASA tracks about 21,000 pieces of debris over 10 cm. [2] Is largest single source getting confused with majority, or was more debris discovered after the fact? 1. http://www.space.com/3415-china-anti-satellite-test-worrisome-debris-cloud-circles-earth.html http://www.space.com/3415-china-anti-satellite-test-worrisom... 2. http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faqs.html#3 http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/faqs.html#3 PS - Not trying to play 50 cent army here, "largest single source" is still definitely bad, just not the same as "vast majority."

brownbat 14y ago
Ah, I see now that my parent's sources list it as "largest debris-generating event" (celestrak) and "The test is the largest recorded creation of space debris in history with at least 2,317 pieces of trackable size (golf ball size and larger) and an estimated 150,000 debris particles." (wikipedia). That tracks with what I saw, so take this as just a minor tweak to GP's phrasing. Don't skip that post because of the oversight. The celestrak link offers an incredible HD video simulating the debris cloud and the path of the ISS... it's like an action movie. Great find, so I upvoted.