Satellite Collision: New Details

One satellite was an American Iridium satellite, used to provide communications for the data services company. It weighed 1,200 pounds and was more than 12 feet in length. The second satellite was a nonoperational Russian device. No further details are known about its previous purpose.

The two satellites crashed about 490 miles above northern Siberia on Tuesday and immediately cracked into pieces. Scientists say this is the first time a satellite collision of this magnitude has occurred.

Satellite Collision: Space Station Impact

Investigators believe the threat to the International Space Station is now small, though they say it’s still too soon to know how many fragments are still floating around. Early estimates put the number at “many, many dozens, if not hundreds.”

NASA officials say some of the debris is already near the station’s altitude. They remain confident, however, they’ll be able to avoid the pieces if need be.

“We’ll just dodge them if we have to,” an official tells The New York Times. “It’s the small things you can’t see that are the ones that can do you harm.”

International Space Station controllers say they’ve now tweaked the station’s orbit to make sure it doesn’t cross paths with the debris.

Satellite Collision: Video Report

The following video report from Russian news agency Russia Today provides more details, as well as additional images of the satellites involved in the collision.

Satellite Collision Update: New Information and Images is a post from: The Inquisitr

Here’s something you don’t see every day: an American and Russian satellite have had a space crash.

The Iridium communications satellite and a Russian satellite collided Tuesday 491 miles (790kms) over northern Siberia, creating a cloud of wreckage, officials have reported.

The Johnson Space Center in Houston reported that “The U.S. space surveillance network detected a large number of debris from both objects” believed to be at least 600 pieces.

The Russian satellite is believed to be Cosmos 2251, a communications relay station launched in 1993 that has been non-operational for around 10 years.

The International Space Station (ISS) does not appear to be threatened by the debris, officials said, but it’s not known yet whether there may be a risk to other satellites.

Iridium said in a statement that “Although this event has minimal impact on Iridium’s service, the company is taking immediate action to address the loss.” Iridium offers a global satellite phone and communications service.

Space crash: US and Russian Satellites collide over Siberia is a post from: The Inquisitr