Ace of Spades HQ

September 23, 2011

Real-Time UARS Satellite Tracker
— rdbrewer

Update 4: Fixed! Sort of. Ustream has live coverage... with an obnoxiously heavy music track! So exciting. Player embedded below the fold. (Thanks to commenter "RokShox.")

Update 3: Never mind. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. Go to the Fox link below or use the InfoSatellites.com tracker. (Thanks to commenter "t-bird.")

Update 2: It did work. I added it back. Wait a few minutes for the data to load.

Update: It looks like the plugin works here, but the tracking data doesn't load, so I deleted it. You can see it at Fox News.

The Google Earth plugin is required to see the tracker ~~below the fold~~. There is a short wait for the tracking data to load. Depending upon the time, you may have to spin the Earth around with your cursor to see the track. Give it a few moments.

Re-entry estimates are updated here. Here is the latest:

As of 10:30 a.m. EDT on Sept. 23, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 100 miles by 105 miles (160 km by 170 km). Re-entry is expected late Friday, Sept. 23, or early Saturday, Sept. 24, Eastern Daylight Time. Solar activity is no longer the major factor in the satelliteÂ’s rate of descent. The satelliteÂ’s orientation or configuration apparently has changed, and that is now slowing its descent. There is a low probability any debris that survives re-entry will land in the United States, but the possibility cannot be discounted because of this changing rate of descent. It is still too early to predict the time and location of re-entry with any certainty, but predictions will become more refined in the next 12 to 18 hours.

Last night, it wasn't expected to be a threat to the United States at all. Now it is again, which goes to show how difficult it is to ~~estimate~~ guess when and where it will fall. Regardless, chances are greatest it will hit an ocean or an uninhabited part of the planet.

Follow me on Twitter.

If you can't see that, here it is on Ustream.

Maetenloch sends this helpful video:

Posted by: rdbrewer at 09:30 AM | Comments (95)
Post contains 356 words, total size 3 kb.

1
I'll follow to the gates of Hell, brewster.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 23, 2011 09:35 AM (sqkOB)

2
wow first comment fail big time

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 23, 2011 09:35 AM (sqkOB)

3 No worries.. 2/3 chance of hitting water 1 in 75 trillion chance of hitting human 1 in 14 chance of hitting Meghan McCain

Posted by: IreneFingIrene at September 23, 2011 09:35 AM (JNqU9)

4 In the google window, what is supposed to be displayed besides the globe?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 23, 2011 09:38 AM (s1vtf)

5 Would starting a betting pool be in poor taste?

Posted by: Blue Hen at September 23, 2011 09:39 AM (6rX0K)

6 Which lucky moron will win the satellite lottery?

Place your bets, place your bets!!!

Posted by: EC at September 23, 2011 09:40 AM (GQ8sn)

7 Last night, it wasn't expected to be a threat to the United States at all. Now it is again, which goes to show how difficult it is to estimate guess when and where it will fall.

I blame it on NASA's muzzy outreachÂ®.

Posted by: RushBabe at September 23, 2011 09:40 AM (tQHzJ)

8
yeah, let's list the people we'd like it to land on

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 23, 2011 09:40 AM (sqkOB)

9 They'll be an orange tracking line on the globe. Can you see it?

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 23, 2011 09:41 AM (fozBC)

10 yeah, let's list the people we'd like it to land on

Is there any better target than the Capitol? What'd I win?

Posted by: RushBabe at September 23, 2011 09:41 AM (tQHzJ)

11 One of these days this space shit is going to fall in a high density area and kill people. Oh, well, no worse than a plane crash I guess.

Posted by: mike at September 23, 2011 09:42 AM (4zZFt)

12 How could it not fall into the giant hole which is the us economy?

Posted by: catmman at September 23, 2011 09:42 AM (DTzwU)

13 Is this a rerun of last nights debate..

Posted by: Temper Tantrum at September 23, 2011 09:43 AM (bAL0J)

14 It is funny that the muzzies worship a meteorite that resembles a lady's naughty bits. If this crap falls in SA, will they built another shrine?

Posted by: mike at September 23, 2011 09:43 AM (4zZFt)

15 Maybe it will land on DC.

Posted by: Crashpanic at September 23, 2011 09:44 AM (7eKJh)

16 Maybe the satellite will hit the US federal deficit and destroy it?

I have the map up, downloaded the files, but don't see any satellite. What am I supposed to see?

Posted by: ParisParamus at September 23, 2011 09:44 AM (bN5ZU)

17
I was thinking more like Alec Baldwin or George Clooney.

Posted by: Soothsayer at September 23, 2011 09:45 AM (sqkOB)

18 It takes a few minutes to load the data.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 23, 2011 09:45 AM (fozBC)

19 Won't most of it burn up on re-entry?

Posted by: EC at September 23, 2011 09:49 AM (GQ8sn)

20 Did they re-purpose the Santa Claus tracking system for this?

Posted by: George Orwell what knows Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure at September 23, 2011 09:50 AM (AZGON)

21 Do we need Gardasil injections before this thing hits us?

Posted by: cherry pi, terrorist hostage taking SOB at September 23, 2011 09:50 AM (OhYCU)

22 Seems to me that when these satellites are launched, the design should include a specialized system, the sole purpose of which is to allow for a controlled de-orbit burn that would bring them down in the ocean.

Posted by: Reno_Dave at September 23, 2011 09:52 AM (OL4L4)

23 SCOAMF and wife had to be evacuated to the Hamptons for a week just in case.

Posted by: AE at September 23, 2011 09:52 AM (YYjeh)

24 This is nothing compared to when Skylab came down

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at September 23, 2011 09:53 AM (ItDg4)

25 Well, I changed the Earth's axial tilt -- sorry about that -- and rotated it, but no orange streak.

Posted by: joncelli at September 23, 2011 09:53 AM (RD7QR)

...predictions will become more refined in the next 12 to 18 hours.

Not while Dick Cheney computer still has control of that puppy's thrusters! He just wishes he could do it Slim Pickens style!

Posted by: sherlock at September 23, 2011 09:54 AM (Xq2WY)

27 I suggest we rename this thing to "Obama's Presidency", cause it's gonna crash to earth.

Posted by: cherry pi, terrorist hostage taking SOB at September 23, 2011 09:54 AM (OhYCU)

28 22 -I believe newer satellites include this capability.

Posted by: AE at September 23, 2011 09:54 AM (YYjeh)

29 It'll hit Michael Moore, but he won't know it for at least 4 hours.

Posted by: Havedash at September 23, 2011 09:55 AM (sFD5n)

30 I'm using the infosatellites.com tracker. It just draws it on a map and keeps the map centered. Just crossing into Africa right now.

Posted by: t-bird at September 23, 2011 09:55 AM (FcR7P)

31 I can see the track in another tab that has been open for about five minutes. It's over Africa right now.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 23, 2011 09:56 AM (fozBC)

32 SCOAMF and wife had to be evacuated to the Hamptons for a week just in case.

Sorry, First Grifters, gravity has no limits, and last we checked, there was nothing blocking that particular air space.

Posted by: Abdullah al-Algebra, NASA Help Desk at September 23, 2011 09:56 AM (tQHzJ)

33
I hear that Darth Cheney is gonna use the warcock on the UARS like a Louisville Slugger.

Batter up!

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at September 23, 2011 09:56 AM (6BvaE)

34 28 22 -I believe newer satellites include this capability.
AND the new ones perform outreach to Muslims everywhere.

Posted by: sherlock at September 23, 2011 09:57 AM (Xq2WY)

35 They'll be an orange tracking line on the globe. Can you see it?
Posted by: rdbrewer

Ze Google, zey do nazink!
(no line, just the globe.)

Posted by: weft cut-loop at September 23, 2011 09:57 AM (s1vtf)

36 I downloaded the plugin and reloaded the page twice and got a globe with great performance, but no orange line or other indication of tracking, even after waiting for while.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, Tea Party SOB at September 23, 2011 09:58 AM (d0Tfm)

37 It'll hit Michael Moore, but he won't know it for at least 4 hours. More likely it will be a close approach to Moore, and will be captured by his gravitational field, then orbit a couple of times before atmospheric friction causes it to fall to the ground.

Posted by: Reno_Dave at September 23, 2011 09:59 AM (OL4L4)

38 6Which lucky moron will win the satellite lottery?

Place your bets, place your bets!!!

Posted by: EC at September 23, 2011 01:40 PM (GQ8sn)

I warned you morons last night thats' MY satellite retirement plan hands the hell off:

"A huge, dead satellite tumbling to Earth is falling slower than expected, and may now plummet down somewhere over the United States tonight or early Saturday, despite forecasts that it would miss North America entirely, NASA officials now say" Come on babay, come to papa, i've got just the [place for ya, gettin the Ron paul fence ready to keep varmints out and me in. Got my Ron Paul tin foil hat to protect against radioactivity and stuff. Come on Titanium , platnum, plutonium, I'm gonna be rich

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 09:59 AM (vXqv3)

39 http://www.techiesinfo.com/upper-atmosphere-research-satellite real time tracking

Posted by: anonymous at September 23, 2011 10:01 AM (oha8l)

... but no orange line or other indication of tracking, even after waiting for while.

Be patient, it has to pause every few minutes to re-crunch the numbers, to allow for the gravitational attraction of MO's ass as she shifts to a new burger joint.

Posted by: sherlock at September 23, 2011 10:02 AM (Xq2WY)

Me and Glenn beck is on the same page here I'm way more likely to git rich being struck by and sellin this space junk than be harmed by Al "Rich guy" Gores .05% global warming baloney.

Come on down baby come to papa now.

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:03 AM (vXqv3)

42 I hear it got the latest solyndra solar panels.

Posted by: Temper Tantrum at September 23, 2011 10:03 AM (bAL0J)

as long as we're on the subject of large, mindless juggernauts, I learned that 'Delaware's own' Joe Biden decided to fly into Delaware to attend the funeral of a New castle County policeman who was murdered last week. The result?

Every major traffic artery in New Castle will be CLOSED during Friday evening rush hour

Posted by: palestinian statehood committee and bomb shelter franchise at September 23, 2011 10:08 AM (6rX0K)

42 yea and I hear them panels go for a coll million a piece, I'm gonna be rich come on baby right over here.

Got my gun runner special AK's to keep the morons away and a couple of thrown in granades, my Ron Paul tinfoil, a Rick Skerry fence (well that might be a slight problem). a means ass cocker spaniel, a black cat and some awfully nosey neighbors so come on down I'm locked and loaded and ready to began the bargaining over my lucky junk!

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:09 AM (vXqv3)

I may be willing to list some of the smaller priceless pieces on Ebay so you morons have a chance to win some of my junk.

The big stuff I'm sellin back to the Goberment for some cash from OBlahBlahs stash!

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:11 AM (vXqv3)

46 That damn jerkoff Obama the Stuttering Clusterf... Of A Miserable Failure had better stay grounded until this thing lands in my yard cause if that Jackass goes up in AF WON and rams my retirement plans I'm gonna be pissed off as the Dali Lama leaving by the trash can route, or gaddahfy learning givin up his nukes was a death sentence!

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:16 AM (vXqv3)

Would not want to be on the job tonight, given this advice from NASA..

"If you find something you think may be a piece of UARS, do not touch it. Contact a local law enforcement official for assistance."

Everyone with broken mower parts, old BBQ grills, mangled swing sets, you name it, will be calling in. "But Officer, I swear it came streaking down out of the sky, and my wife wants it out of here!"

Posted by: Errol at September 23, 2011 10:23 AM (vewos)

48 Regardless, chances are greatest it will hit an ocean or an uninhabited part of the planet.

Wouldn't it suck, to say the least, if pieces of the satellite slammed into a civilian aircraft in flight?

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at September 23, 2011 10:23 AM (dr4y0)

49 I'll follow you on twitter, 'cause none of that other stuff/sites work.

Posted by: Dusty at September 23, 2011 10:24 AM (h4S7u)

50 48 Not so sure about those Chinese I'm not sure they paid Pokeston much for our Helicopter, I'm talking serious retirement, follow the whales type cash and I know the Lyin kINGS got i,t hell he gave those guys a half a billion for some crappy solar shingles

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:25 AM (vXqv3)

There's a Ustream feed that is showing the satellite path. Search for "UARS tracking" on Ustream.tv. I will try to post the link in next message.

Posted by: RokShox at September 23, 2011 10:29 AM (pcly4)

Would not want to be on the job tonight, given this advice from NASA..

"If you find something you think may be a piece of UARS, do not touch it. Contact a local law enforcement official for assistance."

Thats my junk dammit call me I'll sell on consignment for ya but i'm almost positive its commin down in my yard I'll know if I find little holes with mounds of dirt around them that my Titanium has landed and I'm a rich man too.

Tim Geither called and says I don't have to pay any taxes on space junk!

Call local Law enfrocement my ass they just want my junk i built a Rick Skerry fence (small Problem) to keep those jack boots pout and me in.

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:30 AM (vXqv3)

They're saying that it will probably break up into a lot of pieces, upon entering the atmosphere......pieces ranging from 10 lbs. to 300 lbs.

Hell, even a 10 pounder would ruin your day if it hit you.

Posted by: ConservativeMenAreJustHotter at September 23, 2011 10:30 AM (gZO5m)

54 Fuck it. Waste of time trying to post links n this site. Even tinyurl'd links rejected. PMO.

Posted by: RokShox at September 23, 2011 10:31 AM (pcly4)

55 http://tinyurl.com/3l3ukex is for the specific infosatellites.com map of 'NORAD 21701' Orbits about every 90 min, shifting westwards a few hundred miles every orbit. Russia's got to be pissed, because the UARS is spending a lot of time up there.

Posted by: t-bird at September 23, 2011 10:34 AM (FcR7P)

56 My damn fence will hold 300lbs, but I only got 1/25th of it done and I'm waitin on the Feds for the rest meanwhile if Obama that Stuttering Clusterf..k Of A Miserable Failure goes up in his Endless Vacation mobile with that mutt of his and rams my retirement junk i'm gonna be really mad his last two Wreckovery Summers about eliminated my last plan.

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:35 AM (vXqv3)

300LBS? Thats got to be a chunk of Titanium about the size of a beer cooler if I saw off some shotguns and hide some shit under my bed I think I can make room for that in my gun safe.

would it be safe to store it under my ammo. Plutonium and ammo stored together in a metal safe shouldn't be a problem should it?

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 10:40 AM (vXqv3)

58 DU, check the NASA re-entry updates. They're moving that time back. Could be as late as early tomorrow am.

Posted by: rdbrewer at September 23, 2011 11:06 AM (fozBC)

59....Plutonium and ammo stored together in a metal safe shouldn't be a problem should it?

Uh....I dunno, cKerry. You might end up with some glowing ammo. ....Or a dirty bomb.

Posted by: ConservativeMenAreJustHotter at September 23, 2011 11:13 AM (gZO5m)

Pay no attention to that weatherspace stuff they can't even tell me if'n its gonna rain, that junk is gonna fall right on schedule in my back yard.

Just called home to tell the wife if she sees anything unusual in the back yard stay away and call me.

If it looks like the neighbor brats bike don't be fooled Schwinn probably contracted for the guidance system and steering gears for that beautiful retirement package headed my way just throw a blanket over it till I gets home to chop it into storable, hidable pieces then the negotiations and Ebay listings go begin.

Bad as I would like a new roof I'd hate to lose a dog, cat over that thing crashing on my house, but hey retirement funds in these tough times is paramount!

This is gonna be a rare piece and lucky catch for some of you Ebay shoppers since the Jackass turned NASA into a MOOslim Outreach organization, rare indeed

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 11:35 AM (vXqv3)

Uh, perhaps this is one of my dumb blonde moments, but if this "bus" from space is going to endanger a populated area why can't one of our missle type defense thingies shoot it down before it reaches earth?

Or, here's another: will it hitting the atmosphere cause it to break up into little pieces? I dunno, a bus hitting me while I am sleeping sounds like a bummer (who do I sue?).

Posted by: ChristyBlinky at September 23, 2011 11:37 AM (baL2B)

Got some good lookin Titanium Knees out of the crematory 1800 degrees for 4 hours should be a close approximation of space junk.

Hey dumb Blonde above, they said 10 to 300 lb pieces so that won't be much bigger than a beer cooler. Perfectly repairable hole but the ensueing fire from the heat of re-entry might necesitate a Fireman call, and I plan on suing Obama he's the only Won splashing any real cash around.

Posted by: concealed Kerry or submit at September 23, 2011 11:44 AM (vXqv3)

63 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

Posted by: steevy at September 23, 2011 12:16 PM (fyOgS)

64 Faux News reports that the GOP says this another way Obama has failed as president.

Posted by: no_fear at September 23, 2011 01:16 PM (QwLhu)

What world do you live in? It must be very sad there...

Posted by: no_fear at September 23, 2011 01:17 PM (QwLhu)

What world do you live in? It must be very sad there "steev y"....

Posted by: no_fear at September 23, 2011 01:18 PM (QwLhu)

67 Jane, you ignorant slut.

The first 5 years of Saturday Night Live coincided with my teen years and they've been part of my being ever since. My nick comes from SNL & Belushi:

http://snltranscripts.jt.org/78/78rcowperthwaite.phtml

Posted by: Captain Ned at September 23, 2011 01:55 PM (4DXCI)

Y'all are jelly that I have an 8".... telescope so I can see this shit still out in space.

It's ok.

Posted by: CAC at September 23, 2011 01:59 PM (mQo2k)

69 I have just kissed my ass good by and I am now hiding under my kitchen table (thank god for wifi). It's coming over the UK in an few minutes so this could be it - or maybe in another 89 minutes if it makes another orbit as it will come over us again then. _ oh well it was a good life......

Posted by: simon at September 23, 2011 02:39 PM (Iv6rG)

Really hope this piece of junk lands on the whitehouse... would it then help with the economy? Maybe it will give economy a big boost that it needs... & help the whole world....

Are there any bets going around as to where it will crash?

Posted by: Chas&Dave at September 23, 2011 03:00 PM (ABAQO)

71 Not pick up space debris? Are you kidding? Who invented that law, one that violates any maritime law concerning salvage rights? And it falls in your yard, then guess who owns it? Yes, you do! And do you think if it falls in a place like, say, Iran or N. Korea, they aren't going to pick it up and keep it? Fat chance! Sell it on eBay and give the money to Congress to fix the deficit! Maybe the Iranis will sell it to the Russians and give the money to the US for foreign aide to Isreal! Yea, thats it!

Posted by: Andrew at September 23, 2011 03:25 PM (ShCQc)

72 St. Brendan's Irish Cream Liquer and prayers...and cheerz...

Posted by: Dave at September 23, 2011 03:25 PM (uVfKS)

73 I hope it doesn't land at McDonalds while I'm eating a Big Mac. I don't want my Big Mac to go splat!

No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!
No Big Mac splat!

Posted by: Rufus Clinghorn at September 23, 2011 03:26 PM (G4GTp)

74 @72 No Jelly here

Posted by: Big 10 inch at September 23, 2011 03:48 PM (0GV9m)

75 Well I am glad that Big Bird has flown past us in Blighty and is likely to meet its US maker. You guys made it. You guys deserve it. Enjoy.

Posted by: Chris at September 23, 2011 03:49 PM (RC9IB)

76 Daarn, its coming to Finland. Tulis jo alas, en kestÃ¤ tÃ¤tÃ¤ jÃ¤nnitystÃ¤

Posted by: Toni at September 23, 2011 03:59 PM (apMsG)

77 Notice how the altitude and speed of UARS has not changed that much in the last 4 hours.

I wonder, is it possible that the craft has found a stable attitude and the solar sails are causing it to "skip" along in the outer part of out atmosphere?

Can anyone imagine this confounding NASA for days or perhaps weeks as the "zombie" un-dead ghost craft sails across the globe?

AHHHHHHHh

Posted by: NortonPete at September 23, 2011 05:00 PM (8zxoH)

Posted by: Big 10 inch at September 23, 2011 07:48 PM (0GV9m)

Fuck you.

Posted by: CAC's 8" dobsonian at September 23, 2011 05:01 PM (829z3)

79 No, itÂ´s not coming to Finland. IkÃ¤vÃ¤ tuottaa pettymys.

Posted by: Janna at September 23, 2011 06:00 PM (3nhoW)

80 hope it dont land in N Korea or Iran they might take it as an attack

Posted by: Bobbus Maximus at September 23, 2011 06:57 PM (vuscC)

81 Saw the last pass from Coeur d'Alene, Idaho a few min. ago. Tumbling for sure.

Posted by: J Purtee at September 23, 2011 07:08 PM (uMIoT)

82 Saw the burn up begin.....from Idaho looking north....9:15 p.m. pacific.....

Posted by: J Purtee at September 23, 2011 08:29 PM (uMIoT)

83 There is something fasinating about watching this satellite's orbit decay.
I can't put my finger on it but it is terribly interesting.

Perhaps the amazement comes from the knowledge that NASA is very unsure about the thickness of the upper atmosphere.
Yet they seem to know everything about climate change.

Posted by: NortonPete at September 23, 2011 08:30 PM (8zxoH)

84 So where is this damn thing. Has it hit earth yet.

Posted by: Fletch at September 23, 2011 08:57 PM (q5u0z)

85 I could be wrong, but this baby is skipping along the top of the earth's atmosphere. I would love to be there.

I think it has another 12 hours to play.

Good Night.

And like the Rolling Stones said, "If your out on your bike tonight, wear white and a tin helmet bloke!"

Posted by: NortonPete at September 23, 2011 09:04 PM (8zxoH)

86 So that's it...... to nearly hit South Africa? My My..

Posted by: Randy at September 23, 2011 09:09 PM (aDi/P)

87 Oh its still going .... i'll shut up XD

Posted by: Randy at September 23, 2011 09:16 PM (aDi/P)

88 I thought it was meant to be all over at 03:00 GMT this morning (it's now 06:21) .... Stubborn 6 ton fucker isn't it....

Posted by: Kronic Wind at September 23, 2011 09:20 PM (aDi/P)

89 Please hit Dick Cheney in the face.

Posted by: Bee at September 23, 2011 09:28 PM (a+H5G)

90 1:35am EST its passing just north of Hawaii.

Posted by: Ken at September 23, 2011 09:37 PM (6gYpQ)

91 @83 why did you say that?

Posted by: Big 10 inch at September 23, 2011 09:40 PM (0GV9m)

Better ustream site at ustream channel uars-live-tracking

Posted by: RokShox at September 23, 2011 10:33 PM (pcly4)

93 Can't predict were a satellite in space will fall within hours of reentry yet NASA can predict the earth's ground level temperature 100 years from now. But it's NASA. It's NASA.

Posted by: Mac Gootbone at September 24, 2011 02:50 AM (XCSw/)

94 Uh - NASA doesn't even know where it came down after the event. I guess it was the budget cuts. "NASAÂ’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 23 and 1:09 a.m. EDT Sept. 24. The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California said the satellite penetrated the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The precise re-entry time and location are not yet known with certainty"

Posted by: Andrew at September 24, 2011 04:45 AM (ShCQc)

95 Thank God that my Big Mac did not go splat!

Posted by: Rufus Clinghorn at September 24, 2011 08:45 AM (G4GTp)

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