I really hope it just broke apart... because the alternative is that somebody has an anti-satellite weapon that is fairly discreet (not as obvious as a missile fired from the ground) and that they're willing to actively use.

[–] ramble81@lemm.ee 16 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

Could also be the massive amount of space debris ripped it a new one

[–] NaibofTabr 3 points 9 months ago

Yeah, there's lots of stuff in orbit, and these are just the objects large enough to be tracked by radar. An impact from a small, fast-moving object is a completely rational explanation.

[–] Reddfugee42@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Occam's Razor - micrometeorite or space debris

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 3 points 9 months ago

Or just plain structural failure due to a design or manufacturing defect.

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Space lasers are real!!

[–] Comment105@lemm.ee 2 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago)

I remember watching a Tech Ingredients video where I think they did the math on space lasers, I think the conclusion was that it would be technically possible to significantly impact local earth surface temperature with one. (Might've been a degree or two extra for 10km² or something like that, with a huge satellite, maybe around the size of Hubble, or bigger.)

Of course, there's no reason to believe some politicians' insane ramblings about "Jewish Space Lasers".

Edit, found the video: https://youtu.be/-MVs37rxJL0?si=4Ztwq-FyOiB0uZqI

If the topic seems insane, the caveat at 31:50 should probably correct the tone. This man doesn't actually believe space lasers were used to start a big grass fire.

Also, I remembered all the numbers very wrong.

[–] schizo@forum.uncomfortable.business 5 points 9 months ago

...so the front fell off?

[–] Crackhappy@lemmy.world 5 points 9 months ago

Meteoroid?

[–] zurohki@aussie.zone 4 points 9 months ago

Boeing management should start calling their ex-girlfriends and begging them to take the curse off.

[–] badbytes@lemmy.world 3 points 9 months ago

They attempted to find and ask the quality control person at Boeing, but they were on extended leave.

[–] awholenewworld@leminal.space 2 points 9 months ago

Was it "Made By Boeing" sticker?

[–] Allonzee@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Better cut some more jobs, that's bound to improve product quality!

[–] troed@fedia.io 2 points 9 months ago

I'm sure the right organizations know.

https://www.axios.com/2020/07/23/russia-space-anti-satellite-weapons-test

[–] Someonelol@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 9 months ago

Could it be hydrazine setting off while its thrusters engaged maybe?

[–] Protoknuckles@lemmy.world 1 points 9 months ago

I mean, I have a theory...

[–] I_Miss_Daniel@lemmy.world -2 points 9 months ago

You sunk my battleship? You bunked my satellite!

[–] Adderbox76@lemmy.ca -2 points 9 months ago

The answer is in the headline...