EP Will Love This

[uniface]

For 15 years, scientists have benefited from data gleaned by U.S. classified satellites of natural fireball events in Earth's atmosphere – but no longer.

A recent U.S. military policy decision now explicitly states that observations by hush-hush government spacecraft of incoming bolides and fireballs are classified secret and are not to be released, SPACE.com has learned.

The satellites' main objectives include detecting nuclear bomb tests, and their characterizations of asteroids and lesser meteoroids as they crash through the atmosphere has been a byproduct data bonanza for scientists.

The upshot: Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified.

http://www.space.com/news/090610-milita ... balls.html

[dannan14]

*sigh* Once again the U.S. Government proves that it is incurably stupid.

[Rokcet Scientist]

*sigh* Once again the U.S. Government proves that it is incurably stupid.

No lo contendere.

[E.P. Grondine]

*sigh* Once again the U.S. Government proves that it is incurably stupid.

Reported by Leonard David.
Those running these systems have their reasons.
The US impact researchers proper still have access to the data, privately though.
There's an upcoming round of arms negotiations with China, Russia, Europe.
Undoubtedly sharing this data publicly will be discussed then among the parties,
and some kind of sharing mechanisms among the major powers will be worked out then.

[Minimalist]

Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified.

Perhaps they think that by stamping it "secret" they will not someone from noticing a large rock falling on their head?

I'm with dannan on this one.

[Rokcet Scientist]

Active misdirection of the media, and public opinion, and sabotaging public accountability and free speech.

That is in direct contravention of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on numerous counts. Hence it is High Treason.

[dannan14]

Interesting angle EP. i think i'll go see if Drudge Report has covered this.



Nope, nothing there yet. It sounds like the kind of issue he would cover though.

[E.P. Grondine]

Interesting angle EP. i think i'll go see if Drudge Report has covered this.

Nope, nothing there yet. It sounds like the kind of issue he would cover though.

The huge SCANDAL was Mike Griffin's contempt for Congress (that's House and Senate, Republicans and Democrats) in his response to their instructions in the George Brown Jr. amendment to deal with the impact hazard. As a matter of fact, NASA's response to this hazard has been scandalous for years. The story is there, I reported on it, but I think Greg Easterbrook will probably be the one to break it nationally. I don't look for it on Drudge, until the new NASA Inspector General's report is released.

[E.P. Grondine]

Space rocks that explode in the atmosphere are now classified.

Perhaps they think that by stamping it "secret" they will not someone from noticing a large rock falling on their head?

I'm with dannan on this one.

Its the capabilities of US reconnaissance satellites, and the information on those is controlled.

Like I said before, those researchers who need to know are still getting the data, and there is an upcoming round of arms control negotiations where these issues will be discretely and in a very delicate way "discussed" with Russia, China, and Europe.

[E.P. Grondine]

Active misdirection of the media, and public opinion, and sabotaging public accountability and free speech.

That is in direct contravention of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights on numerous counts. Hence it is High Treason.

That's what I and other impact researchers have been dealing with since 1997, along with harassment from a pack of fanatical manned Mars flight enthusiasts.

It hasn't been High Treason, but it has not been "fun".

By the way, "Man and Impact in the Americas" is a landmark book, as uniface told you, and you can PM me for the archaeologica bbs signed copy special.

[Minimalist]

I don't know if E.P. will love this or not (although I suspect he will) but I got this from Buzzflash today. Enjoy.

Assume that a huge "planet killer" asteroid on a direct collision course with the earth has been spotted – nine months before its projected impact. President Barack Obama proposes an emergency program, in conjunction with the Russians, to knock the asteroid off course before it destroys our planet.

The Republicans in the Senate promptly mount a filibuster against the enabling legislation, thereby delaying action, leading to the destruction of the planet and to the end of all human life.

Now for the top 10 reasons why the GOP let the world be destroyed:

10. Didn't want to offend teabaggers who believed Obama was an alien born on the asteroid.

9. Furious over Obama's refusal to declare the asteroid's approach an act of terrorism and then bomb Iran in response.

8. Believed tax cuts for the rich would be a more effective response.

7. Just trying to prevent another big tax and spend government program.

8. Said, "Hey, if the asteroid hits in 2010, it will be during the one year gap when there is no inheritance tax, which means we'll all avoid the 'death tax!'"

7. Trying to save the world sounded like more of that sissy environmentalism crap.

6. Preferred private enterprise based solutions like corporate sales of anti-asteroid ointment.

5. Refused to accept the scientific consensus on the asteroid's trajectory until they had absolute proof in the form of the earth's destruction.

4. Said, "There were no asteroid attacks during Bush's term. So it's Obama's fault and why should we bail him out?"

3. Insurance lobby wanted action delayed until they'd sold more "asteroid policies" (payable only in the event everyone on the planet was killed in an asteroid impact and if claim was then promptly made thereafter).

2. Wouldn't support Obama's proposal because the asteroid protection would have applied to illegal aliens as well as U.S. citizens.

And the number one reason why the GOP let the world be destroyed . . .

1. Allowing Obama to save the world could have helped the Democrats in the 2010 and 2012 elections and even the apocalypse was better than that!

Note: If you look closely, you'll see that there are actually 12, not 10, reasons given. Somehow, when it comes to right-wing lunacy, 10 just isn't enough.

[dannan14]

Ok, so it was only half a pound and no one got hurt, but it is still a reminder that we can be hit. http://www.space.com/news/meorite-virgi ... ffice.html

[Minimalist]

We ought to know that we can be hit by now, though.

[dannan14]

Yes, WE do. But WE doesn't necessarily cover the general population. A small space rock falling though a doctor's office roof in 2010 is probably a bit more convincing to some folks than a much bigger rock vaporizing a few brontosaurus.

[Digit]

What's the building close to the rim Min?

Roy.