Dead, like her.

Since SkyLab was a big snooze (Indian Ocean, 'remote part of Australia') you'd think they wouldn't bother making such an advanced announcement unless they had some inkling that it was in an orbit capable of decaying over a more populous latitude. It'd be passing continents in seconds, which kinda makes one thankful for the whole 70% water thing.

Put me down for 13:13 GMT, 29 Feb., somewhere off the western coast of Africa. No Whammies tsunamis.

Probably not in the way either of us is thinking. Everything 'burns' on passage through the atmosphere. And I take back part of what I said earlier. Like, duh, it's a spy satellite. Of course it passes over populated areas, by design.

tojo2000 wrote:

Surely they didn't design it with the intent to survive re-entry intact? It's not like there should be a whole lot of rocket fuel spraying people's houses on the way down.

Well, of one thing we can be sure: There'll be no spraying down of anything in the milliseconds between its arrival into breathable atmosphere, and impact (tho we can imagine skyscrapers in the way...that sorta thing). If the compartment that contains the hydrazine--it does not make sense that it would have a large, empty space of a tank for more than the initial adjustments when it was put in orbit and minor attitude corrections--was breached, there would probably be a 'violent out-gassing,' but I can't say for sure that only the trailing vapor particles would ignite. I suspect it would be quite pretty.

The resulting explosion on any landmass would be significant with or without the remaining fuel. They say it's about the size of a school bus, but couldn't possibly be as dense as your average meteorite. It is, however, coming in lower, and slower, than some space rock. If any part of it managed to survive, then a nice warning about poisonous fuel would keep folks away. It's fun to run the variables, ain't it?

This probably caused more headaches.

square wrote:

pALEPHx wrote:

Like, duh, it's a spy satellite. Of course it passes over populated areas, by design.

Rock Hudson to the rescue!

Speaking of design: Worst. Cover art. Ever.

What is that in the upper right, a submarine attacking a fighter jet? That's as absurd as sharks fighting eagles. Or Rock Hudson having sex with Ernest Borgnine.

Go ahead, just try to get that image out of your head, now.

The mental goggles...they do nothing. 

/me weeps softly to himself

pALEPHx wrote:

square wrote:

pALEPHx wrote:

Like, duh, it's a spy satellite. Of course it passes over populated areas, by design.

Rock Hudson to the rescue!

Speaking of design: Worst. Cover art. Ever.

What is that in the upper right, a submarine attacking a fighter jet? That's as absurd as sharks fighting eagles. Or Rock Hudson having sex with Ernest Borgnine.

Go ahead, just try to get that image out of your head, now.

One of the ex-partners at the firm I work for had Ernest Borgnine as a client.  Rather, he hired the firm to protect his stupid daughter.  When the partner left, Ernie owed the firm over 1 million bucks.  He was quite an asshole.  But, thanks for the image Pale.  Now I need to stick my head in a bucket of bleach....
No comments necessary from the peanut gallery, Tojo.

tojo2000 wrote:

Lurker wrote:

No comments necessary from the peanut gallery, Tojo.

\

It's tough, but I've probably given you more than your share of haranguing(sp?).  I'll bite my lip for now.

Yes, my plate of your shit is full.  Don't bite too hard.

Lurker wrote:

500-Foot Asteroid Passing Earth Tuesday

Wasn't aware Earth had been devoured.....here's the story

Sorry, but I'm trying soooo hard to avoid getting my blood pressure up listening the the last (thankfully) pack of shit Bush is letting loose.

I was just driving home wondering if the Secret Service would come knocking at my door if I sent him 200 boxes of jumbo pretzels.

tojo2000 wrote:

I was just driving home wondering if the Secret Service would come knocking at my door if I sent him 200 boxes of jumbo pretzels.

A manufactured, clappy lie-fest, yet again. He was already talking as if he had half a dozen pretzel nuggets stored in his florid cheeks. Y'kno, I have really come to doubt the wisdom of having twice elected a man who cannot even pronounce "American."

pALEPHx wrote:

tojo2000 wrote:

I was just driving home wondering if the Secret Service would come knocking at my door if I sent him 200 boxes of jumbo pretzels.

A manufactured, clappy lie-fest, yet again. He was already talking as if he had half a dozen pretzel nuggets stored in his florid cheeks. Y'kno, I have really come to doubt the wisdom of having twice elected a man who cannot even pronounce "American."

I want to slap him every time he talks about terrr*.

* As in the Global War on Terrr

tojo2000 wrote:

Lurker wrote:

500-Foot Asteroid Passing Earth Tuesday

Wasn't aware Earth had been devoured.....here's the story

Sorry, but I'm trying soooo hard to avoid getting my blood pressure up listening the the last (thankfully) pack of shit Bush is letting loose.

I was just driving home wondering if the Secret Service would come knocking at my door if I sent him 200 boxes of jumbo pretzels.

Myself, I've been sending Cheney a box of Slim Jims every month or two.

Johnny Rotten wrote:

Spacejunk smacejunk,

tomorrow an asteroid betwween 500 and 1000 feet long will pass close to earth in a near miss.

It's exciting for scientists, but for news the fact that a huge rock will pass about 300 million miles from your house is just never as impressive as a chunk of metal landing within 12,000 or so.