[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

(meteorobs) Air Force Fears Satellite Damage During Upcoming Meteor Showers





Air Force Fears Satellite Damage During Upcoming Meteor Showers

Nov 01 1999 07:38:17 ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Air Force said Friday it will be watching
closely for any damage to U.S missile-warning, communications and other
military satellites when the earth passes through the Leonid Meteor Storm on
Nov. 17.

The storm, consisting of tiny sand-like particles traveling faster than
140,000 mph, is essentially a cloudy tail of space debris from the comet
Temple-Tuttle.

Although there was some concern when the earth first passed through the
comet's tail in 1998, the Air Force said scientists expect this year to be
the largest display from Temple-Tuttle since 1966.

Full story here:

http://www.space.com/news/leoniddamage_9901101_wg.html
To UNSUBSCRIBE from the 'meteorobs' email list, use the Web form at:
http://www.tiacdot net/users/lewkaren/meteorobs/subscribe.html