Zombie Satellite Causes Astronomical Buzz

Yahoo Buzz Log ^ | 5/11/10 | Claudine Zap

[BigEdLB]

Don't be alarmed. High above your heads, a zombie satellite is on the loose. OK, actually, it won't really be a bother to us earthlings. Or at least to most of us. (More on that later.) But the rogue communications satellite is wreaking havoc in Earth's orbit and does threaten to interfere with signals coming from other satellites.
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Why on earth we should care: The "zombiesat" (as its known in space talk) could steal a working sat signal, and interrupt programming for its customers. Yes, that means our television programs. The horror. As the blog Boing Boing points out, Galaxy 15 was one of the satellites that carried the Syfy channel's signal. And now it's met an end good enough to be its own Syfy show.

[BigEdLB]

We are V'GER! We will tell you what to watch and when to watch it (Obama pays us well)

[rarestia]

I read something about this yesterday on a tech forum. Somebody screwed up with a propulsion code and sent it off on its own according to someone posting there. Not sure if there’s any truth to it, but it certainly makes for interesting conversation.

[Frantzie]

If Galaxy 15 wipes out TV then Obama may lose control over the stupid zombies who watch TV.

Any Galaxy sat failing is a big deal.

[1rudeboy]

So, what’s the preferred weapon against zombie satellites? I haven’t seen one in any videogame so far.

[knittnmom]

If it steals signals from GPS satellites, you could get some very confusing directions!!

[o_zarkman44]

Independence DAY? What is lurking beyond the moon?

[Alex Murphy]

The "zombiesat" (as its known in space talk) could steal a working sat signal, and interrupt programming for its customers.

[commish]

ZombieSat laughs at your pitiful attempts to control it!

[Hacklehead]

Zombie-sat could start the zombie apocalypse. Better load up.

[Jack Hydrazine]

What we need is a satellite or series of satellites with ion propulsion that could clamp on to a zombie satellite and bring it down into LEO far enough that its orbit would decay rather quickly and crash into the ocean. Then the satellite that pulled it out of its orbit could then head toward another zombie satellite and do the same thing. When the satellite gets low on fuel just re-fuel it and send it on its way.

[no-s]

clamp on to a zombie satellite and bring it down into LEO far enough that its orbit would decay rather quickly and crash into the ocean. Then the satellite that pulled it out of its orbit could then head toward another zombie satellite and do the same thing.

You have been...Anticipated: Terminator Tether

[MrB]

A satellite shotgun, of course.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Great idea!