US and Russian communications satellites have collided in space in the first such reported accident.
A satellite owned by the US company Iridium hit a defunct Russian satellite at high speed nearly 780km (485 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, Nasa said. The risk to the International Space Station and a shuttle launch planned for later this month is said to be low.
The impact produced massive clouds of debris, and the magnitude of the crash is not expected to be clear for weeks. There are thousands of man-made objects orbiting the earth, but this is thought to be the first time two intact spacecraft have hit each other, the BBC’s Andy Gallacher in Miami says.
Does this worry anyone else that, although this one was safe…is it only a matter of time before a fatal collision occurs?
Where’s the attached article on this story?
Its on the BBC News front page at the mo.
Hmmm … Russia and the US colliding…
@Mikey, I wouldn’t be overly worried, theres plenty worse that could hit the earth!
Traffic lights perhaps .. or the sensor in yesterday’s post …
In Space no-one can hear you apologise!
Lol True true @ Siobhan
This has happened before. Long time ago. In a ga;axy far, far away.
Around lunchtime I think.
It was raining.
Not in space of course.
US and Russis will probably analyze this and it will neevr happen again.
But I’m sure it can happen with China.