Why is debris from the destroyed Chinese satellite so dangerous?

Question

I mean, aren't satellites and manned space stations built to resist asteroids etc?

Chunks are either _in orbit_ or _falling to the ground_!

Answer 1

It depends on the size and speed of the debris. All space stations and satellites have a specific resistance factor. If the object hitting the satellite, has a high speed, then it will be able to damage the satellite. Even if it has the size of a small stone! Think of a stone on Earth. If it is on the surface, idle, then you can pick it up and it is not dangerous. If however, the same stone is thrown at you hard, and hits you, it might wound you. Same thing in space. Also, the size of the debris matters, the bigger the size the more dangerous it can be especially if it has a high speed.

Answer 2

Large chunks of satellites have fallen to earth, intact, and caused damage. Fortunately no one has ever been killed (the odds are still low for getting hit by a piece of satellite). It could happen with pieces of the chinese satellite. That's why it is dangerous -- what the chinese did.

Now that there are 100s or 1000s of smaller chunks of this satellite orbiting in 100s and 1000s of different orbits it is almost impossible to track them all, and warning cannot be given if a large chunk falls over a populated area.

Satellites are not built to resist asteroids. Most aren't even designed to resist micrometeorites. If a micrometeorite (the size of a small pebble) hit with the right velocity it could severely damage or destroy a satellite.

Answer 3

Debris traveling at thousands of miles per hour can damage materials used in the satellites.
They are built to "resists" punctures but nothing built by humans is absolutely safe in space.

Answer 4

We don't know what kind of weapons China equiped its sats with.

Answer 5

its all about the MSG the new terror preaervatives from space.

Answer 6

hey man!if its come from higher ground,ull be dead when it hits u bro!ha!ha!zzup!