# Space junk on the ground - ''do not touch it" - why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 21, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063 "2011-09-21T14:16:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/21 "2011-09-21T16:01:41Z")
Your blood could turn to powder? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@The\_Man\_In\_Black](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Man_In_Black)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/22 "2011-09-21T16:28:45Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Calling all Men In Black…converge on Bakhesh’s house immediately and take no prisoners… I’m staying out of this. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/23 "2011-09-21T16:40:22Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I’m kinda thinking that if my car went down a hill because I forget to set the brake or it failed and it wound up in your yard, my car would still be my car. “Possession is nine-tenths of the law,” they say. However, if you really want to insist that it’s your car, you can speak to my lawyer about all of those damages that “happened” when your car arrived in my yard. Same thing with your space junk. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/24 "2011-09-21T16:45:24Z")
Don’t touch it! [It’s Evil!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY9Z5OPzE78) ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/25 "2011-09-21T17:19:04Z")
Well, go ahead but just remember, _You break it, you buy it._ > [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > There has been at least one fatality. I think her name was Sally. This might not count, since she was hit by falling Space Junk. I think this happened in New York or Miami beach (though heavy metal fell in Cuba Angola and Saudi Arabia). Really? I knew there was one US woman that saw a flash while walking and then felt a little ‘tink’ when something very lightly hit her shoulder. It was a piece of mesh from a Delta Five rocket. A number of news organizations, NASA’s included, are claiming no one’s ever been hurt by falling debris. I wonder why the discrepancy. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/26 "2011-09-21T18:22:03Z")
Remember, kids, “If you see a rocket, don’t touch it! Don’t let anyone else touch it! Leave it alone! Tell a nation-state.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/27 "2011-09-21T18:45:24Z")
As **Alka Seltzer** mentioned, I’m guessing they want to keep the crash scene intact for study. This is going to be a more frequent occurrence in the future, and they need to know as much as possible about it. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/28 "2011-09-21T18:51:46Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > It’s [dangerous](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPpQCarlncY). I already knew what you linked to before I even clicked it. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/29 "2011-09-21T20:27:06Z")
> [@Bakhesh](#): > > According to [this article](http://lubbockonline.com/national-news/2011-09-21/scientists-still-trying-guess-where-satellite-will-fall), its because Nasa say “there are no toxic chemicals present, but there could be sharp edges.” Whoa, slow down with the rocket science there, poindexter! “You’ll put your eye out!” ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/30 "2011-09-21T20:41:19Z")
nm, wrong thread. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/31 "2011-09-21T20:52:35Z")
> [@janeslogin](#): > > So we are to think that 12000 pounds of metal will burn up but toxins may remain on a pound of scrap? Maybe not _on_ a hunk of scrap, but perhaps _in_ a leaky fuel tank that survives re-entry. Or maybe it’s not leaky: maybe it’s still pressurized, and you start fiddling with it, and it blows up in your face. Or maybe an on-board battery survives intact, and zaps you. Or maybe it’s not intact, and it leaks toxic fluid onto your skin. With very rare exceptions, there’s not really a good reason in favor of touching any of these parts. Combine that with very good reasons _against_ touching any of these parts (toxicity, sharp edges, and maybe extreme temperatures immediately after impact), and the most sensible policy is to tell the general public to just not touch any of it. It’s a simple rule, easy to remember, and doesn’t require any judgment on the part of the public. ---
**Author:** ![user\_hostile](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/user_hostile/32/474_2.png) [@user\_hostile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/user_hostile)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/32 "2011-09-21T22:31:41Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > More [cautionary tales](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbgMbVWAB7w&t=4m50s). Did they use that prop for MST3000? Per the ownership of said spacecraft, it’s a matter of international law. Ownership is retained by said nation or corporation throughout the entire life of the S/C–even after re-entry. Keeping any S/C part you find in the US is a Federal offense, and you could be arrested, prosecuted, and fined for theft of property. If you sell said item, you’ll also be charged with fencing stolen property. This is SOP for all the countries I’ve been in with respect to satellites and rocket launches. There’s too much money to be lost by trying to score with the “finders–keepers” argument. If you decide to say int’l law no longer applies to you, the cost could be loosing access to other spacecraft currently or in the future. The US has an enormous amount of leverage here, since the US has built most of the commercial GEO’s. OTOH, if you suffered property damage, injury, or death, from a falling piece of S/C debris, the owner is legally and financially responsible. So, all other things being equal, you have a finitely very small chance of appearing on a talk show if you survive a hit from the debris. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/33 "2011-09-22T00:00:14Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > > [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > > > There has been at least one fatality. I think her name was Sally. This might not count, since she was hit by falling Space Junk. I think this happened in New York or Miami beach (though heavy metal fell in Cuba Angola and Saudi Arabia). > > Really? I knew there was one US woman that saw a flash while walking and then felt a little ‘tink’ when something very lightly hit her shoulder. It was a piece of mesh from a Delta Five rocket. > > A number of news organizations, NASA’s included, are claiming no one’s ever been hurt by falling debris. I wonder why the discrepancy. My bad–I wasn’t serious and meant to include a [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktsVGg0-w0). Evidently I’m neither Man nor Devo. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/34 "2011-09-22T08:13:12Z")
Well I do know that stotable liquids used in ICBM were toxic to the point of instant lethality, And as ICBM at jettisoned in stages, sometimes well before the atmosphere I could think that they woud retain toxity. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/35 "2011-09-22T12:11:43Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Don’t touch it! [It’s Evil!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY9Z5OPzE78) Psst - post #9. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/36 "2011-09-22T13:04:41Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Don’t touch it! [It’s Evil!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY9Z5OPzE78) I thought that would be based on that one short story of a primitive society where no one is allowed to touch metal, and you discover the reason why is radioactive fallout from Armageddon. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/37 "2011-09-22T13:11:07Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > My bad–I wasn’t serious and meant to include a [link](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iktsVGg0-w0). My fault for not having heard the whoosh as that debris flew by. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/38 "2011-09-22T13:24:55Z")
The debris being the shattered bits of post, not an actual whoosh (that was way too obscure to have note included a link and expect people to get). ---
**Author:** ![Khristy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/57b2e6/32.png) [@Khristy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khristy)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/39 "2011-09-23T05:27:08Z")
What cracks me up about this whole thing is, in 1969 we were able to land men on the moon 250,000 miles away, and bring them back to earth using computers less powerful than the digital watch on your arm, yet… in 2011 they can’t even figure out where this junk is going to land with all the super computers available to the US government. Really? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2011, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063/40 "2011-09-23T06:43:07Z")
> [@Khristy](#): > > What cracks me up about this whole thing is, in 1969 we were able to land men on the moon 250,000 miles away, and bring them back to earth using computers less powerful than the digital watch on your arm, yet… in 2011 they can’t even figure out where this junk is going to land with all the super computers available to the US government. Really? Yes. There are all sort of variables, like how many pieces it will break up into. Where will that happen? The physics is rather complicated. There is no one there to radio NASA and tell them what is going on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/space-junk-on-the-ground-do-not-touch-it-why/597063.md?page=3)