It's not so empty any more

Three somewhat-related items of interest found in the news searching today.

1. A Russian general has accused the U.S. of engineering the
satellite collision last month, which has increased the space debris
problem, imperiled the Hubble reservicing mission, and for which I
suggested we need a garbage scow operation in space.


Russian General Says U.S. May Have Planned Satellite Collision

Response: HA HA HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.... wait a minute to
catch my breath... chuckle chuckle chuckle...

Like we'd do that! Those are OUR satellite interests in space that
those high-speed chunks of orbiting techno-junk are now much more
likely to hit. The Russian general also thinks that it was part of
the Orbital Express mission (another link); I read about that and noted that the Orbital Express satellites are now in decaying orbits. Are they still
under control, I'd like to know??

2. Chinese suburb of Hong Kong (Shenzhen super city) will create
satellite manufacturing capability, 4-5 satellites a year.


Shenzhen to Build Four to Five Satellites Every Year

Response: Don't they know about the orbiting debris problem?
Where are all these satellites going to operate?

3. Close, but no Tea Leoni


Close Encounter: Earth-Asteroid Near Miss (this link had the coolest picture)

JPL announced that we just got missed by a Tunguska-class asteroid
that just got noticed two days ago. Regardless of the "Deep Impact"
or "Armageddon" scenarios, the one we don't see coming is the one
that's most likely to hit us. Relative to items 1 and 2, why can't
we envision and then come up with some clean-up systems for debris and
better intercept and divert plans for NEOs?

They've come even closer before:

Fireball over the Tetons


The Great Daylight 1972 Fireball

Someday "soon", we're gonna get thunked noticeably. Hopefully it'll
hit where it creates a tourist attraction and not someplace with a
significant population.

Asteroids: more than a 70's video arcade game.