Get yer China Space Station tracker link right in here.

General » General Discussion

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Get yer China Space Station tracker link right in here. (Page 1 of 8)

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:38:47 PM EDT

Are you in the potential path?

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=37820

http://www.satflare.com/track.asp?q=37820

Adding: FAQ (http://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2018/03/26/tiangong-1-frequently-asked-questions-2/

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:44:05 PM EDT

[#1]

Not today.

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:48:55 PM EDT

[#2]

Thanks for the links.

Man, that thing is losing a mile of altitude about every 2 min.

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:49:39 PM EDT

[#3]

Hope it hits my house when I'm at work.

J-

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:49:41 PM EDT

[#4]

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:50:32 PM EDT

[#5]

Hell yeah! Southern Michigan.

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:50:52 PM EDT

[#6]

Yep

It s3ems like Michigan is freaking out and running a bunch of stories about it, the rest of the state's don't care

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:53:06 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep

It s3ems like Michigan is freaking out and running a bunch of stories about it, the rest of the state's don't care

View Quote

The politicians in MI all got semi-trucks up their ass for not taking things seriously with lead in the water, etc. They'll over react to everything for a while.

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:55:41 PM EDT

[#8]

Op posted this link and when I clicked the link the space station was at 118.5 miles altitude It is now at 112.75 and falling

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:55:46 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Thanks for the links.

Man, that thing is losing a mile of altitude about every 2 min.

View Quote

Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:56:28 PM EDT

[#10]

Yea kinda funny how no one really realizes that it could fall anywhere along its flight path.
J-

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:57:31 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Thanks for the links.

Man, that thing is losing a mile of altitude about every 2 min.

Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

Karman line

Posted: 3/30/2018 9:58:10 PM EDT

[#12]

Can we get reparations from the Chinese?

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:01:10 PM EDT

[#13]

It is dropping at a pretty good pace. It is close to the end

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:03:01 PM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
Karman line

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Thanks for the links.

Man, that thing is losing a mile of altitude about every 2 min.

Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

Karman line

There ya go. Thanks.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:05:23 PM EDT

[#15]

Ground Control to Major Wong..

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:08:02 PM EDT

[#16]

What is the tariff on Chinese space junk?

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:08:35 PM EDT

[#17]

Lou Reed - Satellite of Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH2EgYq_NCY

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:10:46 PM EDT

[#18]

We can't take the chance that thing will hit New York City and hurt people, so we should nuke NYC immediately before it's too late.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:11:56 PM EDT

[#19]

Nebraska. Hmm this doesn't look good.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:13:00 PM EDT

[#20]

Matoon, Il isn't looking good.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:15:12 PM EDT

[#21]

It's gaining altitude? Wtf?

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:17:58 PM EDT

[#22]

Quote History

Quoted:
It's gaining altitude? Wtf?

View Quote

Its not in control. Its orbit is a bit oblate, I would say. So its sort of going around the earth in a bit of an oval or a little offset.

To get a real sense of the erosion of its orbit, write down its elevation; wait about 88 or 89 minutes and then compare.

ETA: Just for a data point, when I first dug around on this story back in Jan/Feb, this thing was 250KM up. Its now in the 175KM range.

ETA2: Also, remember the Earth is not a perfect sphere. The diameter of the equator is bigger than the rest of the planet. So that could also be at play here.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:18:27 PM EDT

[#23]

Quote History

Quoted:
Op posted this link and when I clicked the link the space station was at 118.5 miles altitude It is now at 112.75 and falling

View Quote

109mi and climbing

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:19:47 PM EDT

[#24]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Thanks for the links.

Man, that thing is losing a mile of altitude about every 2 min.

Yep.

Atmospheric entry is not a "wall" of air like you see in the movies, but the general gist is reentry is considered to happen at about 100KM in attitude which has a fancy name I can't remember.

Earth-Space Boundary aka Ionosphere

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:20:05 PM EDT

[#25]

Maybe hit China in a little bit. Return to sender.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:21:14 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Its not in control. Its orbit is a bit oblate, I would say. So its sort of going around the earth in a bit of an oval or a little offset.

To get a real sense of the erosion of its orbit, write down its elevation; wait about 88 or 89 minutes and then compare.

ETA: Just for a data point, when I first dug around on this story back in Jan/Feb, this thing was 250KM up. Its now in the 175KM range.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
It's gaining altitude? Wtf?

Its not in control. Its orbit is a bit oblate, I would say. So its sort of going around the earth in a bit of an oval or a little offset.

To get a real sense of the erosion of its orbit, write down its elevation; wait about 88 or 89 minutes and then compare.

ETA: Just for a data point, when I first dug around on this story back in Jan/Feb, this thing was 250KM up. Its now in the 175KM range.

Ah, thank you!

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:23:20 PM EDT

[#27]

They should probably get a law passed outlawing space junk from potentially killing people.

They think laws will protect them from all guns too...

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:24:45 PM EDT

[#28]

In the higher probability zone here.

With any luck this space station will arrive before the shit I ordered on Amazon being shipped by China Direct. I always wanted a space station.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:24:57 PM EDT

[#29]

bet you a dollar it drops on something economically important, a dam or corporate headquarters

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:25:48 PM EDT

[#30]

Looks like I'll have to check my homeowners insurance to see if I have proper coverage.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:26:36 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Ah, thank you!

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
It's gaining altitude? Wtf?

Its not in control. Its orbit is a bit oblate, I would say. So its sort of going around the earth in a bit of an oval or a little offset.

To get a real sense of the erosion of its orbit, write down its elevation; wait about 88 or 89 minutes and then compare.

ETA: Just for a data point, when I first dug around on this story back in Jan/Feb, this thing was 250KM up. Its now in the 175KM range.

Ah, thank you!

See my ETA2 also. It occurs to me that the Earth is not pefect sphere -- wider at the equator. As it it approaches a location above the equator the earth is getting closer to it; as it moves away from being above the equator the earth is moving away.

I'm going to write down its next two elevations when it crosses over the equator and will post them here.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:27:27 PM EDT

[#32]

Sweet! Right in the middle of high probability, it would be cool to see it re-enter

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:27:37 PM EDT

[#33]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks like I'll have to check my homeowners insurance to see if I have proper coverage.

View Quote

How big a hole would it make?

I see NoVA is in the zone.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:28:07 PM EDT

[#34]

Just think of the improvements it could do if it were to skip across Michigan like a pebble on a lake!

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:28:14 PM EDT

[#35]

Quote History

Quoted:
In the higher probability zone here.

With any luck this space station will arrive before the shit I ordered on Amazon being shipped by China Direct. I always wanted a space station.

View Quote

How?

43°N to 43°S is the orbit/anticipated crash

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:28:31 PM EDT

[#36]

Orbital Mechanics be difficult. There is a high point in the orbit and a low point. No orbit is 100% circular. When the low point starts dipping below 100km is when things should get exciting. Or maybe not.

It also depends on things like what side the solar panels are hanging off, which parts start dragging on the atmosphere first. Hence why they don't know when or where exactly it will come down.

I learned all these things and more playing Kerbal Space Program, actual real life physics may vary.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:29:13 PM EDT

[#37]

When is this thing estimated to hit the ground so I know when to start the popcorn?

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:29:39 PM EDT

[#38]

Oh, goddamit, I was really hoping it would wipe out Sacramento.

Dammit.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:30:45 PM EDT

[#39]

Honestly I’m surprised the estimates vary so much with so little time left. I would’ve thought they would’ve had it down to basically within minutes and the location within maybe a state or two.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:31:04 PM EDT

[#40]

Would be a shame if the government "unknowingly" set off a massive explosion somewhere along the crash site, and blamed it on the Chinese to have them write-off some of our debt.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:33:22 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:
Orbital Mechanics be difficult. There is a high point in the orbit and a low point. No orbit is 100% circular. When the low point starts dipping below 100km is when things should get exciting. Or maybe not.

It also depends on things like what side the solar panels are hanging off, which parts start dragging on the atmosphere first. Hence why they don't know when or where exactly it will come down.

I learned all these things and more playing Kerbal Space Program, actual real life physics may vary.

View Quote

I had to re-read that in Scott Manley's voice.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:34:41 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Its not in control. Its orbit is a bit oblate, I would say. So its sort of going around the earth in a bit of an oval or a little offset.

To get a real sense of the erosion of its orbit, write down its elevation; wait about 88 or 89 minutes and then compare.

ETA: Just for a data point, when I first dug around on this story back in Jan/Feb, this thing was 250KM up. Its now in the 175KM range.

ETA2: Also, remember the Earth is not a perfect sphere. The diameter of the equator is bigger than the rest of the planet. So that could also be at play here.

View Quote

You are correct, it's in an elliptical orbit.
When it gets to it's lowest point in that orbit is when aerodynamic drag comes in to play.
Either it bounces because of speed and survives a few more orbits or it succumbs to gravity and the atmosphere takes over and the bitch meets the incinerator.

Newtons law and all that.
I am looking forward to video of it coming down, but we will be lucky to see any at all.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:36:39 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
How?

43°N to 43°S is the orbit/anticipated crash

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/41058/tiangong-1-re-entry-area-3-30-2018-499792.jpg

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
In the higher probability zone here.

With any luck this space station will arrive before the shit I ordered on Amazon being shipped by China Direct. I always wanted a space station.

How?

43°N to 43°S is the orbit/anticipated crash

https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/41058/tiangong-1-re-entry-area-3-30-2018-499792.jpg

It orbits offset from the earth's rotation, and the earth is also tilted on its axis. it spends a bit more time per east-west unit at the top and bottom of the range as it does elsewhere, that's all.

The higher probability zones at this point are recognizing nothing at all more than that. There's literally no way for them to know for sure how its going to behave once it gets into the atmo and its path starts getting impacted more by aerodynamic impacts of air on its various surfaces than its momentum / centrif force ....

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:38:08 PM EDT

[#44]

Quote History

Quoted:
Orbital Mechanics be difficult. There is a high point in the orbit and a low point. No orbit is 100% circular. When the low point starts dipping below 100km is when things should get exciting. Or maybe not.

It also depends on things like what side the solar panels are hanging off, which parts start dragging on the atmosphere first. Hence why they don't know when or where exactly it will come down.

I learned all these things and more playing Kerbal Space Program, actual real life physics may vary.

View Quote

KSP was much more fun before they added all the calculators and helper programs to it.

Still like it, but it was more fun in the free play mode without scores back in beta. Though flying planes is fun. It's an excellent 'game'.

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:39:00 PM EDT

[#45]

I really hope it lands in Shitago!!!!!

Posted: 3/30/2018 10:40:45 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
When is this thing estimated to hit the ground so I know when to start the popcorn?

View Quote

Looking Like April 1 or April 2 now, was as early as yesterday.

Check the link in OP for chart of predictions and you can see it narrow over time. Tomorrow they'll know closer to which continent, I'm guessing.

This reminds me of "Skylab is falling" back in the 70s, turned out to be nothing major, stations aren't shielded for re-entry, so a lot comes apart. Just finding pieces of SkyLab was hard once the big chunks were collected. Closest since was Challenger.