This "space drone" is fascinating. I had not heard of this before. I would imagine it has a large number of uses. I wonder why they are in no hurry to bring it back?

Originally posted by Jason88
Are hazmat suits needed to be worn around all vehicles returning from space?

If it has a hydrogen peroxide engine, it makes sense. That stuff is really nasty and protective gear has been required around it ever since the Nazis used it to power their rocket planes in WWII.

Another thought it may have a emp device and can target any country for shut down of any electrical devices, like planes

Hydrazine is a colorless toxic liquid fuel with an ammonia like odor, primarily used in satellites and space vehicles. Short term exposure to it can produce a range of reactions. Ranging from minor irritation of the nose, throat and eyes to dizzyness and nausea. In the worst cases it can cause seizures, coma or even death

The fuel storage tank had become quite cold in space, resulting in the hydrazine's solidification.
The fear was that the tank would survive re-entry, creating slush and gas, if this impacted a populated area hydrazine gas would have been released causing a disaster I would not like to try and calculate.

The sensors on the impact vehicle as well as the equipment tracking the objects had to be completely rebuilt. The crew of the U.S.S. Lake Erie trained for three weeks prior, learning a entirely new way to do something they train their entire careers for. They were able to track and intercept something 285 km above the earths surface turning the craft and the hydrazine into... and I quote "plasma".

Had they been able to shoot it down with this "secret space plane" we would never have known in the first place..... "hold on let me put some sand over your ears your head isnt completely buried.

Side note: Our good friend china shot one of their weather satellites almost out of orbit but they caught it a little higher than they should have... sooooo for the next 200 years we get to enjoy 5,000 lbs of space debris in about 200,000 pieces orbiting our earth.

from brushless car washes to ballistic missiles that can turn a 4,500 lbs satellite into pulled pork with only the energy transfer of the impact as a destructive force. The United States does it better. Ask anyone who's pissed us off