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dogjones · 23rd December 2011, 07:18 AM

http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full...musati-region/

Quote:

AN as-yet-unidentified metallic ball was discovered in the Omusati Region last month, but officials at the National Forensic Science Institute are at a loss as to where it came from or what its purpose is.

paiute · 23rd December 2011, 07:30 AM

Fuel tank from a satellite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/npdemers/4451626178/

dogjones · 23rd December 2011, 07:45 AM

Cool, thanks for that!

WhatRoughBeast · 23rd December 2011, 10:58 AM

Originally Posted by paiute

Fuel tank from a satellite:

Well of course they'd say that, wouldn't they?

[cue ominous music]

And since the linked article says it's hollow, you just know somebody's going to drill into it, right?

[/cue ominous music]

TSR · 23rd December 2011, 04:53 PM

.
Moorings have broken? Like the first mooring?
.

casebro · 24th December 2011, 05:23 AM

I guess titanium spheres are pretty good at re-entry.

ApolloGnomon · 24th December 2011, 08:07 AM

It used to be said that objects heat due to friction with atmosphere on reentry, but analysis of the stuff that survives intact suggests that the most significant mechanism is actually compression heating of the air on the leading edge.

Vaguely aerodynamic shapes like spherical tanks are going to have less compression loading and have nice turbulence pockets at the trailing edge slowing them down.

23rd December 2011, 07:18 AM	#1
dogjones Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 1,286	I hate it when moorings break off like this! http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full...musati-region/ Quote: AN as-yet-unidentified metallic ball was discovered in the Omusati Region last month, but officials at the National Forensic Science Institute are at a loss as to where it came from or what its purpose is.
	__________________ It's great being ideologically flexible.

23rd December 2011, 07:30 AM	#2
paiute Graduate Poster Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Smack in the middle of a de Broglie wavelength. Posts: 1,147	Fuel tank from a satellite: http://www.flickr.com/photos/npdemers/4451626178/
	__________________ A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Cadaverine Organic chemistry, vengeful ghosts, and high explosives. What could possibly go wrong? Now free for download! http://www.scribd.com/doc/36568510/A...-of-Cadaverine

23rd December 2011, 07:45 AM	#3
dogjones Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bermuda Posts: 1,286	Cool, thanks for that!
	__________________ It's great being ideologically flexible.

23rd December 2011, 10:58 AM	#4
WhatRoughBeast Muse Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 858	Originally Posted by paiute Fuel tank from a satellite: Well of course they'd say that, wouldn't they? [cue ominous music] And since the linked article says it's hollow, you just know somebody's going to drill into it, right? [/cue ominous music]
WhatRoughBeast Muse Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 858

23rd December 2011, 04:53 PM	#5
TSR Do you know what this notorious criminal did? Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 4,788	. Moorings have broken? Like the first mooring? .
	__________________ My apologies once again for not being allowed to use the obvious shorthand term for a person who knowingly posts untruths. Apparently someone finds that term uncivil, demonstrated and deserved as it is. . "My family is not my weakness, Max. It's my strength." Vince Faraday aka The Cape

24th December 2011, 05:23 AM	#6
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,882	I guess titanium spheres are pretty good at re-entry.
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,882	__________________ Please pardon me for having ideas, not facts. Some have called me cynical, but I don't believe them. It's not how many breaths you take. It's how many times you have been breathless that counts.

24th December 2011, 08:07 AM	#7
ApolloGnomon Aluminum Tripod Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Time Zone Zed Zed Plural Zed Alpha Posts: 2,012	It used to be said that objects heat due to friction with atmosphere on reentry, but analysis of the stuff that survives intact suggests that the most significant mechanism is actually compression heating of the air on the leading edge. Vaguely aerodynamic shapes like spherical tanks are going to have less compression loading and have nice turbulence pockets at the trailing edge slowing them down.
	__________________ Lunar Sample Compendium ............Apollo Lunar Surface Journal "I'm ignoring the rest of your foaming rant. " JayUtah