Accidental (NOT!) Space Collision Of Satellites? Yeah, Right!

I haven’t been blogging too much recently because there’s just nothing good to blog about.

The recent crash of space satellites, however, has precipitated a deluge of conspiracy theories. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I’m not a conspiracy nut, but this is just too good. I’ve been skimming the blogs and here’s what I’ve been able to piece together from the collective. 

By now, we have all heard about the space collision of two satellites on Tuesday, 2/10/09. An American communications satellite and a defunct Russian  cosmos orbiter collided over northern Siberia causing over 1,200 new pieces of space junk. The Russian orbitor was presumably not maneuverable. The American satellite was apparently fully functional and able to execute evasive maneuvers, thus avoiding a collision if warned in advance.

The Russians blamed NASA for failing to warn of the impending collision, and NASA in turn put the blame on the Air Force. On the surface, this incident appears to be a case of error – human or computerized warning systems. But consider the following theory. 

First, the Russian government has not stated anything specific about the state of its orbitor. All citations of defunct status of that orbitor have originated from the news media. 

Second, the American communications satellite belongs to the Iridium Corporation. Remember them? In the 90s, they had a good idea, but a bad product. Their plan was to introduce a ‘satellite’ mobile phone that would work anyplace on earth. They launched a number of satellites into orbit to service the phones. But when they introduced the actual phone unit, they attracted no ‘sane’ buyers. For the phones to properly communicate with satellites, they had to engage an antenna that resembled a fishing rod. Not practical.

Third, the Iridium Corporation has leased their satellites, in part, to the U.S. Department of Defense. In fact, Iridium executive board includes Tom Ridge, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.

Fourth, Iridium communication satellites are capable of altering course in order to avoid collision with other space objects. In fact, they have performed evasive maneuvers (by some accounts) 7 times in the past 10 or so years.

So. consider this. It is not too far-fetched to think that the Russian orbitor, rather than being defunct, was in fact a fully operational spy satellite. The U.S. Department of Defense, through its connection with Iridium Corporation via Tom Ridge, decided to take out the Russian spy orbitor. Of course, the Russians had no choice but to helplessly watch their spy satellite break into pieces because a “defunct’ satellite is not maneuverable.

I like it. If this is true, score one for the Americans.

I have not cited any sources here. I got this information from many different news articles and blogs. Google it!

Homeland Un-Security’s New Counter-Un-Intelligence Division

Source: Wikipedia

Here’s yet another reason why our intelligence agencies as well as our government continue to fail us. Recently, the Department of Homeland Security created a new Counterintelligence division charged with increasing “counterspying efforts across all agencies” and raising “the awareness of intelligence vulnerabilities in private industry and in protecting government secrets”. → source

That sound like a great plan. What’s the issue, you may ask? Michael Chertoff, the Homeland Security Secretary, has evidently found it necessary to educate the employees of this division in common-sense security matters. In an internal memo, Chertoff warns employees they should suspect espionage if:

1. Someone asks an employee for classified and sensitive information or access to systems.
2. Someone asks an employee traveling overseas to bring back an envelope or package.
3. An employee has regular contact with a person suspected of being part of a foreign intelligence service, terrorist group or foreign criminal enterprise.
4. Someone makes a request that makes a department employee uncomfortable or compromised.
5. A department employee has a personal relationship with a foreigner that seems suspicious.
6. There is suspicious behavior with a foreigner inside or outside the department.

Well, I feel much better about the security of our nation. Don’t you?!