Gregory's Server
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 @sundogplanets What if we had legislation on the books that NASA or the FAA or the EPA had to do an environmental assessment themselves before they could grant approval? And that it had to be rigorous, complete and public? And that specific enviro standards had to be met before approval could be granted? Every chance I've had to interact with satellite operators in conferences, I've asked them about their plans for dealing with solar storms (I'm particularly worried about Starlink, which requires dozens of maneuvers per day to avoid collisions. What if a large fraction shuts down for a few hours?!) The universal response to my inquiries has been "Don't worry about that, it'll be fine!" I guess we're going to find out very soon. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/
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 @sundogplanets  I hope Ukraine is preparing for a surprise, while Musk's treachery can't help the Russians. Here's a citation for that "dozens of maneuvers per day" stat, by the way: https://www.space.com/starlink-satellite-conjunction-increase-threatens-space-sustainability I am talking o a reporter about this in a couple hours: https://regina.ctvnews.ca/from-outer-space-sask-farmers-baffled-after-discovering-strange-wreckage-in-field-1.6880353 This is about an hour away from my farm, so this'll be a fun conversation, and yet another great opportunity to tell a lot of people about what a huge problem we have with unregulated commercialization of orbit. (Also I just redid my slides for my public talk next week, this is going in!) Interview done. I emailed Jonathan McDowell @planet4589 to ask if he had info on a possible reentry, and he immediately found it, and even had the ground track already calculated! Thank you for this meticulous tracking, Jonathan! (Because the satellite companies sure as shit aren't sharing this info!) It was a Dragon Trunk from the Axios 3 mission, reentered on Feb 26. The reporter is going to send me contact info for the farmer who found it, so at least I can tell him what it is.  Really great (absolutely terrifying) research by plasma physicist @carlysagan is being highlighted today on https://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=02&month=02&year=2024 Is there *anything* that tens of thousands of disposable satellites won't completely fuck up? Satellite companies need to stop launching until they fund research on the upper atmosphere and magnetosphere(!) and show their plans are safe (which...is probably impossible since they aren't safe). @sundogplanets @carlysagan Itβs ironic that the Van Allen belts were discovered in IGY just as the satellite era started. weβve deorbited a lot of stuff over the last 60 years. Is there any evidence for changes in charged particles over that time? the image they posted is alarming. in reality there is much more space between each satellite, enough to have such a minor impact on magnetic fields. If anything It'd push CMEs and other electro-magnetic phenomenon away from earth, as our gravitational surface is now wider. [is not a physicist, nor an expert of any kind] Time to update my satellite pollution talk. There are ~500 more Starlink satellites today than when I gave this talk in July. 4,924 Starlinks in orbit now (56% of the total 8,728 active satellites in orbit). Just your periodic reminder that one private company owned by one pretty awful dude effectively controls outer space now. I just had to update my numbers for a lecture, so here's your periodic reminder: Starlink is now 55% of ALL active satellites in orbit. And given the recent news about that awful billionaire unilaterally deciding to cut of Starlink internet access to parts of the world whenever he wants to, this is extra important to share. Why did our governments effectively gift Low Earth Orbit to one awful dude? This is so bad.
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 @sundogplanets Q: how did Musk know the Ukrainian mission was underway? Weren't the drone transmissions encrypted? @sundogplanets Let's not forget that one awful dude also owns the only way we have to get astronauts to and from the ISS right now. Well, him and Russia, I suppose, technically.  @sundogplanets because governments always cater to money? Just my own guess. π I took a mid-morning nature sanity break and GOSH I'm so grateful I can go snowshoeing through *this* from my back door! It's freaking cold here, but gives great rewards! Today is a lot of bouncing back and forth between Zoom meetings with students, a local news interview about aligned planets, maybe a little writing, and over and over checking on my last pregnant mama goat who was due yesterday. Hopefully more goat babies soon! |
@sundogplanets π€© π
@sundogplanets goat morning to you too!
@sundogplanets That is one smug baby goat! It's so gratifying to see happy confident little goats.