Iridium-33 vs. Kosmos-2251

Iridium 33 was a U.S. Iridium communications satellite. It was launched into low Earth orbit from Site 81/23 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome at 01:36 GMT on 14 September 1997, by a Proton-K carrier rocket with a Block DM-2 upper stage.It was operated in Plane 3 of the Iridium satellite constellation, with an ascending node of 230.9°.

Kosmos-2251, was a Russian Strela-2M communications satellite. It was launched into Low Earth orbit from Site 132/1 at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome at 04:17 GMT on 16 June 1993, by a Kosmos-3M carrier rocket.


On 10 February 2009, at 16:55 GMT, Kosmos-2251 collided with Iridium 33, resulting in the destruction of both spacecraft.

NASA reported that a large amount of space debris was produced by the collision.



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USAF -

"U.S. Strategic Air Command is tracking hundreds of satellite fragments. In the 48+ hours since the collision, the debris swarm has spread around both orbits. Experts characterize the distribution as a pair of "clumpy rings"; one ring traces the orbit of Iridium 33, the other traces the orbit of Kosmos 2251.

This injection of debris substantially increases the population of space junk at altitudes near 800 km. Collisions are now more likely than ever. Fortunately, the International Space Station orbits Earth at a much lower altitude, 350 km, so it is in no immediate danger. The Hubble Space Telescope is not so safe at 610 km. In the days ahead, researchers will carefully study the make-up and dynamics of the debris cloud to estimate when bits will begin to drift down to lower altitudes. "


http://spaceweather.com/swpod2009/12...smosMovie2.wmv









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