Come on guys this is NASA everything they do is science, and they are saying they don't know! ether they are trying to tell us something or they are as worthless as the UN.

Originally posted by worldwatcher
question... if it's part of the shuttle or debris from the space station, how is it staying in orbit with the shuttle? wouldn't it just fall away and eventually down? What size would it have to be in order for it to stay up and in an orbit and not just enter the atmosphere and burn up?

Yeah, but it could take months for it to reenter the atmosphere. If it's part of the shuttle, then it would still be pretty close to the orbiter and the ISS.

Its impossible for it to be space debris, it would burn up in the earths atmosphere. Space debris doesnt follow the space shuttle around at 17,500 mph. It would have to have come from the space shuttle if its not a craft of some kind.

Originally posted by worldwatcher
question... if it's part of the shuttle or debris from the space station, how is it staying in orbit with the shuttle? wouldn't it just fall away and eventually down? What size would it have to be in order for it to stay up and in an orbit and not just enter the atmosphere and burn up?

I don't think it's the size that matters, ( Where have I heard that before? )

I think the most important thing is the speed it's traveling at. Once you're in a low level orbit I think you have to maintain @ 17,500MPH not to decay, but I could be wrong.

while I am sure this isn't an alien craft, I did get a kick out of the cnn website with the link that reads:

UFO, weather, delay shuttle landing | Video

while we all know that ufo just means it is unidentified, to the everyone outside of aviation and space industries, you know almost everyone else, ufo is synonymous with spaceship. so enjoy it while it lasts folks.

posted by TG

Its impossible for it to be space debris, it would burn up in the earths atmosphere. Space debris doesnt follow the space shuttle around at 17,500 mph. It would have to have come from the space shuttle if its not a craft of some kind.

That's exactly what they think it is.

Space debris from the Shuttle.

However, there was another report from the ISS last week of an "unknown object" that was not reported in the News.

[edit on 19-9-2006 by lost_shaman]

[edit on 19-9-2006 by Cabanman]

Originally posted by TG
Its impossible for it to be space debris, it would burn up in the earths atmosphere. Space debris doesnt follow the space shuttle around at 17,500 mph. It would have to have come from the space shuttle if its not a craft of some kind.

On the contrary, for at least several days or even weeks it DOES travel at that speed. It keeps the speed it was travelling at until atmospheric friction slows it down, but that takes time to occur.

Originally posted by Zaphod58

Originally posted by TG
Its impossible for it to be space debris, it would burn up in the earths atmosphere. Space debris doesnt follow the space shuttle around at 17,500 mph. It would have to have come from the space shuttle if its not a craft of some kind.

On the contrary, for at least several days or even weeks it DOES travel at that speed. It keeps the speed it was travelling at until atmospheric friction slows it down, but that takes time to occur.

But they would have noticed it sooner if it was space debris. My guess is its something that has come away from the shuttle, maybe a tile or part of a tile.

Not if it was one of the two parts lost during a space walk. They would have been orbiting right near the shuttle, and might be just now slowing down enough to gain separation from it enough to be noticed.

Ok, everyone always talks about UFOs the alien kind and now when something goes down everyone protects nasa and tells them what to say. Why is noone thinking the other way? Is it really out of the question?

It's probably a piece of the leading edge of the left wing. Nothing to worry about.

Is the thing still there orbiting with the shuttle or has it gone?

I think size does matter. It has to be of considerable size to be seen so far away. If the shuttle lost something of that size, those astronauts should be most unsettled. I cannot see a bolt being noticed that readily on camera. This is why I am curious.

Tuning in to NASA TV I just saw the earth and then an orange glowing ball that could have been the sun and then they swung the camera into the cargo bay and that was it.

However the glowing ball looked to be in eclipse. Not getting excited but did anyone else just see this? Was it a reflection or the moon or the sun or AN ALIEN SPACECRAFT!!!!!!!

Duck and cover!!!!

I think they have docked with the ISS and everybody is getting scolded for telling on them.

Waiting for it to break into entry and go to the U.N. and pick up a few of the greedy.

Bangkok going into Marshall Law we better keep prepared you never know.