will hiking reduce the odds I'll be hit by the satellite ?

[Chip]

Odds are about 1 in 21 trillion that I'll be hit by the satellite. I'd have to imagine this is calculated by averaging the area I occupy in relation to the rest of everything else on the surface of the earth. I figure I'm about 4 times less likely to be hit if I'm hiking (upright, occupying less surface area) than if I'm napping. Odds are pretty high, though, that SOMEONE will be hit. I declare World Hike Day !

This is a bit like Billy's carried watch theory.

Hey, how about that CERN neutrino ? Einstein was WRONG ! Have a great weekend. I'm working . I better stand at my desk...

 

[Paradox]

I'm carrying an umbrella and put in my mouth guard. I have nothing to fear but fear itself!

 

[Brambor]

absolutely

when you move about you are confusing fate

 

[freighttrain48]

What about the fact that the average hikers spends more time outside thus being more likely to have a satellite crash into them

 

[Steve-o]

sounds risky to be hiking !:eek
With my luck, I'd hit the lottery for 222 mil. then have a satellite land on me.
It's all good but, don't be afraid to fill out those organ doner cards, just in case !
Good luck !

 

[Tom Rankin]

If you are outside, you might actually be able to see it coming, as it will just be in free fall by the time it approaches the Earth's surface. So, just make sure you are on a trail with a wide open view!

 

[Nessmuk]

If you are outside, you might actually be able to see it coming, as it will just be in free fall by the time it approaches the Earth's surface. So, just make sure you are on a trail with a wide open view!

I once saw a "star" mysteriously brighten then completely disappear with a very slight lateral movement. I suddenly came to realize that I must be on the butt target end of a meteor headed directly toward me. Thankfully those kind burn up completely long before reaching the ground, but in the case of UARS....

 

[DougPaul]

I once saw a "star" mysteriously brighten then completely disappear with a very slight lateral movement. I suddenly came to realize that I must be on the butt target end of a meteor headed directly toward me. Thankfully those kind burn up completely long before reaching the ground, but in the case of UARS....

Are you sure you weren't seeing an Iridium flare?

Doug

 

[Nessmuk]

Are you sure you weren't seeing an Iridium flare?

Doug

Positive. This experience I mentioned was in my college days, long before the Iridium constellation existed. Anyway, there certainly would always be a horizontal component to an Iridium's motion, whether just during the few seconds of the flare, or when viewing the non-flaring craft, which itself is quite visible across most of a dark sky given a favorable sun angle.

I am well aware of Iridium flares and have seen many. As a matter of fact, I regularly check the schedule when I am guiding wilderness treks or training guides. It makes quite an impression when without prior notice during an evening lesson I point to a direction in the sky a few seconds before the appointed flare time and say: "and now over here..."

 

[Chip]

So, just make sure you are on a trail with a wide open view!

So I'll cancel that Catskills hike .

Well I survived. Hope you all did too.

 

[MichaelJ]

It's down. CNET quotes NASA's release, which says the satellite "fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23, and 1:09 a.m. EDT Sept. 24."

The Christian Science Monitor reports that pieces of debris hit the ground in Okotoks, Canada (near Calgary).

 

[sierra]

Odds are about 1 in 21 trillion that I'll be hit by the satellite. I'd have to imagine this is calculated by averaging the area I occupy in relation to the rest of everything else on the surface of the earth. I figure I'm about 4 times less likely to be hit if I'm hiking (upright, occupying less surface area) than if I'm napping. Odds are pretty high, though, that SOMEONE will be hit. I declare World Hike Day !

This is a bit like Billy's carried watch theory.

Hey, how about that CERN neutrino ? Einstein was WRONG ! Have a great weekend. I'm working . I better stand at my desk...

If someone from around here gets hit, I hope Im hiking near them, I would love a piece of that satallite.

 

[Tom Rankin]

If someone from around here gets hit, I hope Im hiking near them, I would love a piece of that satallite.

No one would need to get hit for you to do that. Either way, NASA would come after you, as they claim all space junk belongs to them (and they also claim that some of it could be hazardous, but I think that's mostly to scare people).

 

[DougPaul]

(and they also claim that some of it could be hazardous, but I think that's mostly to scare people).

Some of the fuels are toxic to humans. Eg: the rocket fuel hydrazine. (Many satellites have small rocket motors for orbital correction.)

Doug

 

[J.Dub]

Well I survived. Hope you all did too.

Well done, Herr Heisenberg!

 

[Little Rickie]

Odds are about 1 in 21 trillion that I'll be hit by the satellite. ..

That's just about the odds the Bills had.

 

[sierra]

No one would need to get hit for you to do that. Either way, NASA would come after you, as they claim all space junk belongs to them (and they also claim that some of it could be hazardous, but I think that's mostly to scare people).

First they would have to find me.

 

[Nessmuk]

First they would have to find me.

Oh they could find you all right, or better yet one of NASA's top customers, the NRO, they and partner agencies would surely find you.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Oh they could find you all right, or better yet one of NASA's top customers, the NRO, they and partner agencies would surely find you.

Indeed, they already know where you posted from. I'll bet they are compiling a dossier on you right now!

 

[sierra]

Indeed, they already know where you posted from. I'll bet they are compiling a dossier on you right now!

Im still sleeping good at night, if they have time to waste following a climbing bum like me, well then they really must be caught up on everything else.