Updates Tiangong 1 reentry

[GLS]

Looks like the current word is "South": Pacific, America and Atlantic.

 

[4throck]

Past the predicted time, keeping an eye on:
http://www.aerospace.org/cords/reentry-predictions/tiangong-1-reentry/

and some webcams:
http://camaras.vera.com.uy/camara/14

Seems that it will do about another orbit...

 

[C3PO]

That last prediction has it reentering in darkness. Should make for a good show for cameras in the vicinity.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Just went through 120km... not going to make another orbit now. One hour left.

 

[DaveS]

Just went through 120km... not going to make another orbit now. One hour left.

I think this tweet by Jonathan McDowell explains that there is no current data, everything is guestimated at this point: [ame="https://twitter.com/planet4589/status/980581490131177472"]Jonathan McDowell on Twitter: "Folks, this is the point when observer reports would be VERY useful. Just because you find a website that says TIangong is 150 km up right now doesn't mean it is, they are all running on stale data. Let us know if you see it - or if you should have seen it but didn't."[/ame]

 

[GLS]

My bet is that it will go long, i.e. past the 0030UTC prediction and reenter somewhere over the Atlantic and/or Africa.

 

[DaveS]

The only sensors that will be able to detect the entry when it happens are classified military IR sensors that usually looks for ballistic missile launches such as the ones on the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites as well as the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) sensors on various dedicated and hosted platforms.

---------- Post added at 01:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:45 AM ----------

This is from the 18th Space Control Squadron at Edwards AFB: [ame="https://twitter.com/18SPCS/status/980588127877136384"]18 SPCS on Twitter: "#JFSCC predicting #Tiangong1 reentry over the Atlantic Ocean (between South America & Africa at ~1749 PST today. For details see https://t.co/OzZXgaEX0W
@US_Stratcom @usairforce @AFSpaceCC @30thSpaceWing @PeteAFB @SpaceTrackOrg… https://t.co/GgPsBPbG0h"[/ame]

 

[GLS]

As it is coming down, why not look back to when it went up

 

[ADSWNJ]

Out of interest - did the Chinese intentionally let this lab reenter? I.e. did it end its useful purpose? Or was the intention to boost it back up, and for whatever reason, it didn't happen?

 

[GLS]

Out of interest - did the Chinese intentionally let this lab reenter? I.e. did it end its useful purpose? Or was the intention to boost it back up, and for whatever reason, it didn't happen?

They (somehow) lost command capability, hence the uncontrolled reentry. What was planned and when, I don't know.

 

[ADSWNJ]

Looks like aerospace.org has admitted defeat ... no more predictions any more.

Anyone got a new tracking site they like?


Found this: https://www.spacetv.net/live/chinese-space-station-tiangong-1-tracking-and-reentry/

 

[Linguofreak]

Out of interest - did the Chinese intentionally let this lab reenter? I.e. did it end its useful purpose? Or was the intention to boost it back up, and for whatever reason, it didn't happen?

Generally, if a reentry is planned, you'll expend enough delta-V for your deorbit burn that the periapse will be firmly in the atmosphere and the reentry area will be precisely known.

 

[C3PO]

It's most likely down by now, or at least in the process of breaking up in the atmosphere. I'd be surprised if any tracking station has a bead in it now. Now we have to wait for visual observations of the reentry.

---------- Post added at 01:51 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:49 AM ----------

Generally, if a reentry is planned, you'll expend enough delta-V for your deorbit burn that the periapse will be firmly in the atmosphere and the reentry area will be precisely known.

Most deliberate reentries happen over the southwest pacific ocean.

 

[GLS]

[ame="https://twitter.com/18SPCS/status/980614448745406465"]https://twitter.com/18SPCS/status/980614448745406465[/ame]

 

[camelopardis]

The video of the reentry is awesome, several pieces and the main body light up and then all of them start burning at the same time, leaving all those reentry trails.

 

[boogabooga]

Oh geez- after all that, it lands in the Southern Pacific Ocean. What a stereotype!

On the bright side, it seems not to have landed too far from Point Nemo, considering. Probably could not have landed in a much safer spot if they tried!

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161004-the-place-furthest-from-land-is-known-as-point-nemo

 

[Ripley]

The video of the reentry is awesome...

Video? Where?

 

[camelopardis]

Video? Where?

Just search "Tiangong" on youtube :tiphat:

 

[llarian]

Read the comments on the clip. It was April 1st. Video was not real. I would suggest it to be rather inappropriate for suggesting it here.

 

[Urwumpe]

Read the comments on the clip. It was April 1st. Video was not real. I would suggest it to be rather inappropriate for suggesting it here.

Doesn't prevent some really rubbish newspapers in Germany to claim the video is real today. But since it is claimed to have been filmed in India, its more than doubtful its the real one.