Suspected PayPal Hackers Seek Deal To Stay Out Of Prison
Did A Google Earth Mistake Cause A Couple's Brutal Murder?
US Spy Satellite to Come Crashing to Earth
Typically spy satellites are disposed of in a controlled fashion, usually crashed into the ocean to keep any sensitive data out of the hands of foreign governments. But without power this satellite's descent will be uncontrolled and difficult to predict.
Worst of all, the satellite may contain beryllium, a light metal with an extremely high melting point routinely used in the aerospace industry. Beryllium is highly toxic, and if inhaled can lead to chronic and incurable respiratory problems.
So build a shelter and get a gas mask -- this one might get ugly.
From USA Today
Related links:
- Virgin Galactic Shows Off Spaceship Model
- Super Roaches Born in Space
- Japanese Space Probe Beams High-Def Vids of Earth
These American Companies Refused To Sign The Bangladesh Safety Accord
Chili's Waitress Fired Over Facebook Post Insulting 'Stupid Cops'
How Kidnapping Suspect Passes Time Behind Bars
Billboard Music Awards: Worst Dressed (or Most Daring?) From Past Red Carpets
HSBC Plans 14,000 More Job Cuts
Former OJ Attorney Gives Shocking Testimony
Forbidden America: Cold War-Era Map Shows No-Go Zones For Soviet Tourists
Man Takes Dump In Background Of Instructional Workout Video
Teen Who Died During Her First Solo Drive May Have Been Texting
Tenants: Stench of Death Makes St. Louis Complex 'Unlivable'
Famous Roadside Attractions
Guess Which State Boasts The Most Million-Dollar Homes?
Taylor Swift Q and A: What Does She Splurge on in Las Vegas?
Hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S 4 running stock Android 4.2
PHOTOS: 10 Deadliest Periods In History (NEW BOOK)
Bill Gates regains title of world's richest person as Microsoft stock hits five-year high
New Leads In Case Of Missing British Girl
LOOK: There's Something Wrong With This Picture
PHOTO: Looking Good! Chaz Bono Loses 65 Pounds
Waitress Surprised With HUGE Tip On Tiny Bill
PREGNANT!
Courtney Stodden Has A Sex Tape
Student Shot Dead During Botched Home Invasion
Will Smith, Jaden Smith Get Photobombed
Jodi Arias' Lawyers Want Out
Victim's Sister To Arias: 'Our Minds Are Permanently Stained'
Pictures Showing Pregnant Teens' Bumps Banned From Yearbook
The Afterlife Of Andy Kaufman
LOOK: Khloe K Shows Curves In SKIN TIGHT Dress
And Your New 'American Idol' Is ...
LOOK: Mind-Blowing Optical Illusions
'The Voice' Shakeup
Comments
10
Subscribe to commentsBillJan 28th 2008 9:13PM
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Typical sensationalistic journalism. And one wonder why no one ever believes anything you guys write.
WILLJan 28th 2008 11:24PM
WELL SAID BILL
Allen EngebretsenJan 29th 2008 8:53AM
On July 4th, 1980, WBJW-FM in Orlando sponsored our first "Sky Show" 4th of July promotion (the radio station broadcast rock & roll synchonized to the fireworks show). While the promotion was quite successful, the big "hit" was the "Skylab Target t-shirt" we gave away. Space junk has been falling to Earth ever since.
It's strange how these "unintended consequences" of our actions always seem to surprise us. Now "Blow-back" has extended into outer space!
AllenJan 29th 2008 9:02AM
I wonder. If this spy satellite lands in Washington, D.C. do you suppose Osama bin Laden will take credit for it?
DaveJan 29th 2008 9:02AM
It'll be interesting to see where the debris from this puppy lands. Intell probably won't tell us, because we don't have a need to know, but everyone else in the world will know because newspapers will report it as public knowledge. I can't imagine it's a health threat. Has anybody asked how many Gazillion $ are lost with this satellite? Or how many decades it will take to replace it?
Allen EngebretsenJan 29th 2008 9:04AM
By the way, who does this satellite belong to?
Joshua FruhlingerJan 29th 2008 12:31PM
Bill, to be fair, Terrence was being sarcastic with the shelter and gas mask comment.
Joshua FruhlingerJan 29th 2008 12:49PM
Allen - it's being called a "US Spy satellite", so I can only imagine it belongs to the US Government.
cindyFeb 1st 2008 1:00PM
Maybe this will give our economy a boost! After all, we'll be running out to buy supplies; water, canned goods, masks, maybe even some cement block,
etc.
GeorgeFeb 1st 2008 9:20AM
What about our antiballistic defence system. This will be great occasion to test it again.