Tiangong-1

I need to put something exciting on this blog page.   The SpaceX Heavy Falcon rocket launch and Elon Musk's car in outer space with a space-suited mannequin sitting casually in the driver's seat seemed exciting. 

 I know, everyone wants something bigger and better.   How about a video of Starman riding along in the Tesla passing by earth?   Click on the arrow to see the video.  

No?   Tired of hearing about Starman?   Okay, I have got something really exciting.    Really, really big.  How about a space station falling out of orbit and plunging to earth in a huge fireball?   

Yeah, that got your attention.    No, not the International Space Station but rather the Tiangong-1 Chinese Space Station.   Yep, that's right folks it is spiraling down and is expected to make it's fiery plunge around the middle of March (give or take 2 weeks).   The Chinese have lost control of the space station so it is not possible to have a planned descent and burn-up.   This space station is going to come down when it wants to and will crash wherever it wants to.

The Chinese astronauts on board the Tiangong-1 space station.

You can see the current orbit of the Tiangon-1 at the website link below.   Look out Chicago there is a satellite spiraling down about to pass over you.

 

http://www.n2yo.com/?s=37820

Chicago you are safe (for the moment).   It has passed you by.   But it will be coming back again and again.

Come March keep your eyes trained to the Heavens.   I hope that this will be enough excitement for you.   It just seems like such a waste to go through all the expense of putting a space station in orbit and then just let it fall back to Earth and burn up.   I heard that Elon Musk is thinking of taking tourists to the space station.   What do you think of it?   Would you go?    Would I go?   No way!   I will keep my feet on terra firma right here in the good old USA.   I left the country once to go to the Yucatan to see the Mayan pyramids and got sick as a dog.   And so now I have an aversion to traveling out of the country.   Have great day.    Lew