Military weather satellite explodes in orbit
Posted: Tue, Mar 3, 2015, 7:44 AM ET (1244 GMT)
A 20-year-old weather satellite exploded in orbit last month, creating several dozen pieces of debris. Air Force officials confirmed that the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 satellite, launched in 1995, suffered a "catastrophic event" February 3 after a sudden temperature spike. That event created more than 40 pieces of debris being tracked today. The satellite had been serving in a backup role since 2006. Air Force officials said the spacecraft's data were not used in weather forecast models, although the loss of the satellite will cause "slightly reduced" access to real-time weather imagery for tactical users.
A 20-year-old weather satellite exploded in orbit last month, creating several dozen pieces of debris. Air Force officials confirmed that the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F13 satellite, launched in 1995, suffered a "catastrophic event" February 3 after a sudden temperature spike. That event created more than 40 pieces of debris being tracked today. The satellite had been serving in a backup role since 2006. Air Force officials said the spacecraft's data were not used in weather forecast models, although the loss of the satellite will cause "slightly reduced" access to real-time weather imagery for tactical users.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 30
Starlink’s Architects Launch Eclipse to Open the Megaconstellation Era to New Players
Business Wire — 6:31 am ET (1031 GMT) Rocket Lab buys Iridium in $8 billion deal to take on SpaceX
Reuters — 6:25 am ET (1025 GMT) Rocket Lab CEO vows commitment to aero as firm buys Iridium
Runway Girl Network — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab expands space biz with $8 billion deal
Axios — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) Rocket Lab to acquire satellite firm Iridium
Radio New Zealand — 6:21 am ET (1021 GMT) |
