Satellite set to crash - experts aren't sure where it will land

Ron Czapala

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/goce-satellite-set-to-crash-down-to-earth-in-coming-days--but-experts-aren-t-sure-where-it-will-land-024431932.html

A European space satellite that has been mapping the Earth’s gravitational field is set to crash down to Earth in the coming days, and it could provide a “real treat” for space watchers.

But could GOCE (pronounced “GO-chay”), which is set to make an “uncontrolled entry” into the atmosphere, present a risk to anyone on the ground?

“For the most part, these uncontrolled re-entries are the norm,” Space.com’s Tariq Malik told Yahoo News in a phone interview. “It’s not so much that we’ve been lucky to not get hit by one as it is the planet is so big.”

Buck Rogers

Ron Czapala wrote: »

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/goce-satellite-set-to-crash-down-to-earth-in-coming-days--but-experts-aren-t-sure-where-it-will-land-024431932.html

Hello!
I did read that article. And you're right. I was more surprised by what it didn't tell, versus what it did tell. And the comments are a hoot.

We could have saved Skylab if our government had a backbone......

mindrobots

“By the end, nearly all of the possible trajectory lines will have been eliminated and they’ll have a good idea of where it’s headed.”

I hope by the end they can really pin point the landing spot....like to a city block or so?

"The European Space Agency does not know exactly when GOCE, will crash to Earth, and experts there don't know exactly where it will land."

This reads to me like The ESA has a group of experts (off Earth) that don't know plus there are experts on Earth that don't know either.

Could be an exciting (lottery odds) weekend for somebody!!

jazzed

mindrobots wrote: »

I hope by the end they can really pin point the landing spot....like to a city block or so?

Meanwhile we can play Chicken Little Roulette:

Possible odds:

1:1 Water/Land
5:1 Pick a continent
10:1 Pick a country
20:1 Pick a state or province
50:1 Pick a city

Odds are guesses, but could be derived with statistical rigor.

mindrobots

$2 on Creston, Oh

(close enough to be visible, far enough so we won't get collateral damage, small enough to make it a challenge to hit!)

Dave Hein

I'll pick water since it is over that 70% of the time, and only 30% of the time over land.

jazzed

Dave Hein wrote: »

I'll pick water since it is over that 70% of the time, and only 30% of the time over land.

That's a great chance of a wash! So, you're likely to get your money back. Guess the odds should be adjusted.

Hal Albach

“It’s not so much that we’ve been lucky to not get hit by one as it is the planet is so big.”

I guess the planet is not so big if your house becomes ground zero...