Comments on: Dying old satellites jeopardize future storm coverage http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 11:51:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Don http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568852 Don Tue, 30 Oct 2012 12:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568852 I used to work at Raytheon in their JPSS program.  The weather satellites we're talking about are in polar orbit, not geostationary orbit.  I asked why the satellites have a projected useful life of only 5 years, and was told that battery failure is the usual cause of death. I used to work at Raytheon in their JPSS program.  The weather satellites we’re talking about are in polar orbit, not geostationary orbit.  I asked why the satellites have a projected useful life of only 5 years, and was told that battery failure is the usual cause of death.

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568755 robcat2075 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 05:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568755  The Shuttle as we knew it couldn't get close to the geo-stationary orbit of the satellites in question. However, there is no shortage of launch capability; only unmanned rockets are required.  The Shuttle as we knew it couldn’t get close to the geo-stationary orbit of the satellites in question. However, there is no shortage of launch capability; only unmanned rockets are required.

]]> By: gadgetphile http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568725 gadgetphile Tue, 30 Oct 2012 03:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568725 Deja vu. Didn't we go through this same problem say, twenty years ago? Deja vu. Didn’t we go through this same problem say, twenty years ago?

]]> By: Shinkuhadoken http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568636 Shinkuhadoken Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568636 If only there were some sort of program, one that could shuttle astronauts to space to fix and launch satellites as well as perform scientific advancement for the public good. If only there were some sort of program, one that could shuttle astronauts to space to fix and launch satellites as well as perform scientific advancement for the public good.

]]> By: BonzoDog1 http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568630 BonzoDog1 Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568630 The church ladies can have a bake sale. The church ladies can have a bake sale.

]]> By: Brad Zimmerman http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568619 Brad Zimmerman Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568619 The gods control the weather.  We don't need satellites, we need priests with an interest in meteorology. The gods control the weather.  We don’t need satellites, we need priests with an interest in meteorology.

]]> By: acerplatanoides http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568597 acerplatanoides Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568597  Perhaps if we allowed orbiting tax havens....  Perhaps if we allowed orbiting tax havens….

]]> By: anansi133 http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568591 anansi133 Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568591 considering how far we've let the infrastructure down here degrade, why should our assets up there be treated any different? considering how far we’ve let the infrastructure down here degrade, why should our assets up there be treated any different?

]]> By: Cameron Postelwait http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568583 Cameron Postelwait Mon, 29 Oct 2012 23:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568583 i say we make the network news station that brags the most about ratings take care of it. i say we make the network news station that brags the most about ratings take care of it.

]]> By: Boundegar http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568552 Boundegar Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568552 What kind of people want to squander YOUR money on satellites?  Tax-and-spend liberals, that's who! What kind of people want to squander YOUR money on satellites?  Tax-and-spend liberals, that’s who!

]]> By: spocko http://boingboing.net/2012/10/29/dying-old-satellites-jeopardiz.html#comment-1568539 spocko Mon, 29 Oct 2012 22:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=190732#comment-1568539 Let The Market pay for it.  Surely we don't really NEED this information, it's just nice to have. If we really needed it we would be willing to pay for it, right? And private enterprise is the the way these things work best. If only Government would get out of the way, private enterprise could throw up a few satellites and charge the Government a reasonable fee (plus profit).  They will want you to believe that "private industry" could do all this better but what they neglect to say how much that will cost. But we should just trust them and hand over the contracts like we did to KBR in Iraq.   Let The Market pay for it.  Surely we don’t really NEED this information, it’s just nice to have. If we really needed it we would be willing to pay for it, right? And private enterprise is the the way these things work best. If only Government would get out of the way, private enterprise could throw up a few satellites and charge the Government a reasonable fee (plus profit). 

They will want you to believe that “private industry” could do all this better but what they neglect to say how much that will cost. But we should just trust them and hand over the contracts like we did to KBR in Iraq.  

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