Elon Musk is planning to add — what is it again? 12,000 more satellites? Oh joy. And the sixty satellites he’s already launched have experienced a 5% failure rate, meaning 3 of them are already space junk.
With 12,000 additional satellites orbiting the Earth, they might outnumber the visible stars certain times and places. They’ll certainly be extremely annoying to anyone who likes to gaze at the night sky.
There is an old Ray Bradbury story where three astronauts are falling to the Earth. As one burns up in the atmosphere a mother encourages her kid to wish on a falling star.
The Air Force at Vandenberg AFB is in charge or tracking all the space junk and active satellites. They will even contact operators to advise of potential collisions. www.vandenberg.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/338339/
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 5 years ago
Wish upon an o-ring.
Algolei I over 5 years ago
Elon Musk is planning to add — what is it again? 12,000 more satellites? Oh joy. And the sixty satellites he’s already launched have experienced a 5% failure rate, meaning 3 of them are already space junk.
With 12,000 additional satellites orbiting the Earth, they might outnumber the visible stars certain times and places. They’ll certainly be extremely annoying to anyone who likes to gaze at the night sky.
juncarlo over 5 years ago
As soon as we get to space, we have already turned it into a dump. We really are a plague.
Differentname over 5 years ago
There is an old Ray Bradbury story where three astronauts are falling to the Earth. As one burns up in the atmosphere a mother encourages her kid to wish on a falling star.
Gent over 5 years ago
Humans. Wherever they go, they litter.
Gent over 5 years ago
Learn something from the aliens, humans. So many times they sneaked around our planet and yet they left no trash behind!
pcolli over 5 years ago
…. and all the stuff we left on the moon.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 5 years ago
Japan sent up a satellite to collect the junk, I hear. It quickly failed and became space junk.
rmercer Premium Member over 5 years ago
O-ring was a bad choice…
cdnalor over 5 years ago
Future collector’s items.
Radish the wordsmith over 5 years ago
Its our first defensive system against alien attack.
WCraft Premium Member over 5 years ago
You don’t even want to see our oceans…
roxy6 over 5 years ago
Man. Not enough trash on earth, eh?
Jayalexander over 5 years ago
The Air Force at Vandenberg AFB is in charge or tracking all the space junk and active satellites. They will even contact operators to advise of potential collisions. www.vandenberg.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/338339/
jvn over 5 years ago
I bet that’s a Morton Thiokol O-ring to add insult to injury.
bakana over 5 years ago
The Scary part is how many of the satellites continue to function even after half the parts fall off.
If they don’t affect the way the satellite works, why were they duct taped onto it?
blakerl over 5 years ago
Great opportunity for a new start up business. Space Salvage Inc.
nbwddd over 5 years ago
Star light, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight. I wish I may, I wish I might, Aw Shucks it’s just a satellite.
Ken Gagne Premium Member over 5 years ago
I always appreciate seeing “myriad” used as an adjective instead of a noun! It’s so much more succinct.
coffeemugman over 5 years ago
“Mostly Harmless” is what my guide book says…