Comments on: China Satellite Debris in Google Earth

By: Mapics

Mapics — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:51:35 +0000

Thank you very much for the help I’ll try it and see it happens.

By: ttfnRob

ttfnRob — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:01:10 +0000

madhu, I don’t nitpick at China at all. You’ll find several posts about space junk on ths site. This one is about China.

By: madhu prasad

madhu prasad — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:20:15 +0000

what about space debris by USA, and other nations who have defunct satellites since the space age…why dont you talk about that…instead of nitpicking at China alone……

By: Deixalles espacials vistes amb Google Earth | Diario BV

Deixalles espacials vistes amb Google Earth | Diario BV — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:18:32 +0000

[...] de xarxa que s’actualitza cada 5 minuts amb la posició actual de cada objecte. Llegiu el post de Robert para més detalls així com també per a obtenir una còpia de la seva [...]

By: zhok

zhok — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:04:56 +0000

You can find some of the most amazing places caught from google earth at
http://www.caughtfromabove.com
Hope you enjoy

By: meghan

meghan — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:59:21 +0000

why cant we just use afew satilites 4 each conitnet then stuf like this wont happen

By: planet facts

planet facts — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 08:06:29 +0000

Ya google got in big trouble for viewing north korea… wonder why ^^

By: Astro quickies! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine

Astro quickies! | Bad Astronomy | Discover Magazine — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:04:04 +0000

[...] 4) Speaking of space, China just launched three taikonauts into space, and has completed the country’s first space walk. I’m glad to see other folks joining in the fun. And while I don’t think we need another space race — that tends to focus people on short sighted splashy goals rather then long-term occupation of space — I hope it does light some sort of fire under other countries. The more the merrier… as long as it’s done correctly. [...]

By: Anthony

Anthony — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 09:42:34 +0000

I know that neo needs to take the blue pill and chill. This has been one of many problems with space. I think that anything you put up there you should take down. They need to hurry and make the moon a death star satellite to replace all that garbage! Live long and yea yea yea you know! So hug a tree drive a SUV!!
I heard the bottom of the ocean is covered in booster rockets that cost me and you more than we will ever make in our lifetime!!!! for what????

By: terry wells

terry wells — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:25:30 +0000

I’m catching my breath…… I had no idea there was so much trash in our atmosphere. Do you ever publish on Enchanted Learning ? Our kids need to see their inheritance while they are still in school. My grandchildren visit this web site and find it very helpful and easy to navigate. Thanks to you for all your good work.

By: DS

DS — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:54:26 +0000

I’m looking at this page in my hotel room in Beijing, so…

By: Jerzydevil

Jerzydevil — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:21:01 +0000

Why do there seem to be concentrations of debris over the polar regions? Was the satellite in a polar orbit?

By: Improbable Research | Orbiting Frog

Improbable Research | Orbiting Frog — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:10:31 +0000

[...] have been featured by Improbable Research for my Chinese Satellite Debris tracking Google Earth gizmo. I don’t seem to be able to leave a comment on the page, but [...]

By: Improbable Research » Blog Archive » One into many

Improbable Research » Blog Archive » One into many — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 04:02:19 +0000

[...] have each done it. Robert Simpson, a graduate student at the University of Cardiff, made a cool Google Earth display that tracks all (well, zillions, anyway) of the shattered pieces of the Fengyun 1C satellite that [...]

By: InterBlog » Blog Archive » Fengyun 1C satelitearen apurrak Google Earth-etik ikusia

Sun, 11 May 2008 15:43:56 +0000

[...] lortutako datuei esker, Robert Simpson-ek Google Earth-erako artxibo bat sortu du, Fengyum 1C (China Satellite Debris in Google Earth) satelitearen hondarraren jarraipena egin ahal [...]

By: HalC

HalC — Sat, 10 May 2008 14:58:47 +0000

Here is the NASA Orbital Debris Quarterly. http://orbitaldebris.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/pdfs/ODQNv12i2.pdf

By: pingomania.com » Blog Archive » Space Debris Viewed in Google Earth

pingomania.com » Blog Archive » Space Debris Viewed in Google Earth — Wed, 07 May 2008 21:58:28 +0000

[...] link which will automatically update every 5 minutes with the current position of each object. Read Robert’s post for more details and you can get a copy of his [...]

By: Space Telescopes on Google Earth | Orbiting Frog

Space Telescopes on Google Earth | Orbiting Frog — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:52:43 +0000

[...] see more Google Earth satellite files check out the general Satellites on Google Earth post and the Chinese Space Debris post. As always, suggestions are welcomed in the comments section. For example, I had created a [...]

By: ttfnRob

ttfnRob — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:53:20 +0000

Neo: The data comes from NORAD (http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/). They make quite a lot of trackable data available. The debris size varies quite a lot, ranging from 1mm to several tens of centimetres and they use radar to track the objects as their orbits change over time. The NORAD data is updated sometimes more than once a day.

So no, it is not a simulation. This model is scientifically valid and is in fact the same model that is used to predict visible passes of the International Space Station, which have always been very accurate for me.

You’re right in that I have should have noted the data source. I will edit the post to show this.

By: Neo

Neo — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:45:37 +0000

First off, where did you get the debris location data from? As no source of data is cited, I assume that you created a simulation of satellite explosion in space. If it is a simulation or merely rough calculations, I seriously doubt the model is close to correct. The Chinese hadn’t publicize the projectile of the missile, its speed, its energy and where the missile hits the satellite and many other details needed to accurately predict where the debris will go to. Of course, there must be debris orbiting Earth right now, but not like that shown in your model.

US ground radar can detect a piece of space debris as small as 10cm across. But most of the satellite debris are smaller than 10cm. This suggests that you didn’t use a reliable data for the model. So this is nothing more than a fun project illustrating what you think the debris should be, rather than where the debris are actually be.

By: toomanytribbles

toomanytribbles — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:25:41 +0000

there is lots of junk of all kinds orbiting the earth:
http://toomanytribbles.blogspot.com/2008/04/junk-in-space.html

and regarding the GFoC, wonder no more. i’m in beijing.

By: ttfnRob

ttfnRob — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:55:21 +0000

The debris ranges in sizes from a few mm to a few cm. USA-193, the spy satellite that they shot down in February, has much less debris and much of that is expected to fall toward the Earth sooner or later. The problem with Fengyun 1C is that it was in a high orbit when it was destroyed.

By: Ethan

Ethan — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:46:06 +0000

Oh geez, Rob, this is awful! I had no idea that space debris would scatter around the Earth so significantly! What’s going to happen to the satellite that the US just blew up with a missile; will it do the same exact thing? Also, how big/small are these pieces of debris? Are we talking centimeter sizes, or are we talking a few kilos each?

Ethan