Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by tremon on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @09:26AM
(#27049529)
I'm not sure how to read that chart. Is it showing the object is expected to circle the earth 4 more times, then crash somewhere to the west of Australia?
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Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by Ajedi32 on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @10:05AM
(#27049955)
The legend says:
> Yellow Line – ground track uncertainty after predicted reentry time (ticks at 5-minute intervals)
> Blue Line – ground track uncertainty prior to predicted reentry time (ticks at 5-minute intervals)
So the rocket could re-enter anywhere along the yellow or blue lines.
Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by Denvercoder9 on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @11:33AM
(#27051222)
Actually, it can also re-enter outside of the yellow or blue lines. They given an error margin of 24 hours on the predicted reentry time, and the drawn tracks are only 6 hours long.
Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by Ajedi32 on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @01:24PM
(#27052826)
Looks like it just updated; margin of error was reduced to 22 hours and the drawn tracks now show the full range.
I imagine that as the rocket gets closer to reentering the page will continue to be updated with more precise estimates.
Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by tremon on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @10:09AM
(#27050006)
Thanks, I had completely missed that legend. It was folded by default here (?)
Re:Out-of-control Chinese rocket expected to fall to Earth i...
by MadVikingGod on Wednesday May 05, 2021 @11:55AM
(#27051542)
That is the orbital prediction at the estimated time of reentry. They take where it is right now projected about 3 days out, and show us 6hrs before and after. LEO takes around 2 hrs or less to circle the earth.
This will change. If there is more drag then expected, or any one hundreds of different things happen, the reentry time will change, and then the predicted area will change.