# Military Weather Satellite Explodes **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 4, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206 "2015-03-04T16:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![buddy431](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@buddy431](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddy431)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/1 "2015-03-04T16:48:04Z")
So a 20 year old U.S. military weather satellite apparently exploded on Feb 3. We know this based on the fact that it experienced a “sudden spike in temperature” followed by “an unrecoverable loss of attitude control”. The 43 known pieces of debris are probably a clue too. The satellite was moved to a backup role in 2006, so its loss will have a minimal immediate effect. Of course, an event like this sure brings the conspiracy theorists out, as seen in the comment section. The air force promises to monitor the debris and let other operators know if it looks like a collision is possible. [http://www.space.com/28709-military-weather-satellite-explodes-photo.html](http://www.space.com/28709-military-weather-satellite-explodes-photo.html) ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/2 "2015-03-05T00:06:42Z")
It was the Chinese/North Koreans in collusion with separist hackers from Barcelona who are actually responsible. All with the blessings of the USAF who funded the entire operation to test their defenses. It was an old, aging platform anyway. 🆒 How is THAT for you conspiracy freaks? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/3 "2015-03-05T00:43:45Z")
“Military weather”? Is that like something that tracks nuclear-tipped incendiary cumulonimbus clouds? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/4 "2015-03-05T00:57:15Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Military weather”? Is that like something that tracks nuclear-tipped incendiary cumulonimbus clouds? [Ha-Freaking-Ha.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Air_Force_Special_Operations_Weather_Technician) > [@](#): > > Special Operations Weather Team (SOWT) (AFSC 1W0X2) specialists are tactical observer/forecasters with ground combat capabilities and fall under the 720th Special Tactics Group within the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The mission of a Special Operations Weather Team Specialist is to deploy by the most feasible means available into combat and non-permissive environments to collect and interpret meteorological data and provide air and ground forces commanders with timely, accurate intelligence. They collect data, assist mission planning, generate accurate and mission-tailored target and route forecasts in support of global special operations, conduct special weather reconnaissance and train foreign national forces. SOWTs provide vital intelligence and deploy with joint air and ground forces in support of direct action, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, humanitarian assistance, special reconnaissance, austere airfield, and combat search and rescue. > > * * * > > Special operations weathermen are among the most highly trained personnel in the U.S. military. They maintain the same weather weapon system qualifications as all Air Force weathermen in addition to advanced special tactics skills. Their 2.5 to 3 years of training and unique mission skills earn them the grey beret. Previously, only those who were already in a weather-related specialty were recruited for training, but on 5 May 2008, the Air Force approved the establishment of a new Air Force Specialty Code for Special Operations Weather, formally recognizing their commitment to deploy into restricted environments by air, land or sea to conduct weather operations, observe and analyze all weather data and environmental intelligence. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/5 "2015-03-05T01:12:12Z")
Not the first time this has happened. [http://spacenews.com/20-year-old-military-weather-satellite-wasnt-first-of-its-kind-to-explode/](http://spacenews.com/20-year-old-military-weather-satellite-wasnt-first-of-its-kind-to-explode/) More orbital debris to deal with. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/6 "2015-03-05T02:40:06Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Special operations weathermen are among the most highly trained personnel in the U.S. military. They maintain the same weather weapon system qualifications as all Air Force weathermen in addition to advanced special tactics skills. Their 2.5 to 3 years of training and unique mission skills earn them the grey beret. Previously, only those who were already in a weather-related specialty were recruited for training, but on 5 May 2008, the Air Force approved the establishment of a new Air Force Specialty Code for Special Operations Weather, formally recognizing their commitment to deploy into restricted environments by air, land or sea to conduct weather operations, observe and analyze all weather data and environmental intelligence. I guess that beats simply logging onto The Weather Channel every few hours. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/7 "2015-03-05T03:39:46Z")
Another thing Obama screwed up! ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vegetable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Space\_Vegetable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vegetable)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2015, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/military-weather-satellite-explodes/714206/8 "2015-03-05T14:46:08Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > “Military weather”? Is that like something that tracks nuclear-tipped incendiary cumulonimbus clouds? “Today will be sunny and pleasant, with a brief missile shower possible in the afternoon.”