Unidentified, Space Shuttle Look-Alike Object Crashes In Pakistan

[Garuda]

But at 179 kg it must have been a miniature version...


Unidentified, Space Shuttle Look-Alike Object Crashes In Pakistan

Nov. 30th

An unidentified object weighing 179 kilogrammes mysteriously hit the ground with a massive blast on Thursday. According to details, a space shuttle look-alike object descended to the ground, causing a massive blast, creating fear among the locals. Local administration along with law enforcing agencies took the object for investigation. Until the last report, the nature of the object is yet to be determined.

http://current.com/community/93977180_unidentified-space-shuttle-look-alike-object-crashes-in-pakistan.htm

[majicbar]

That is just short of 400 pounds, it is hard to imagine what it could be and be a useful piece of hardware. Perhaps it might be some kind of return vehicle from some kind of surveillance satellite, perhaps Israeli?

[CasperParks]

This will likely get buried.

[newyorklily]

It looks to be from Earth for sure. http://tribune.com.pk/story/473092/skyfall-high-tech-debris-rains-on-dadu/

[majicbar]

That is just short of 400 pounds, it is hard to imagine what it could be and be a useful piece of hardware. Perhaps it might be some kind of return vehicle from some kind of surveillance satellite, perhaps Israeli?

Photographs seem to be the interstage between boosters, perhaps launched from Florida, noting the one electrical connect which seems to say "EIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER" it seems likely to be of U.S. origin.

[Doc]

It looks to be from Earth for sure. http://tribune.com.pk/story/473092/skyfall-high-tech-debris-rains-on-dadu/

Hilarious comment from that link:

"It’s normal machinery of a Weather Balloon sent into the highest-sky in hundreds every day from airports, universities and labs testing and forecasting weather for travel, business, news and research purposes."

I'm leaning toward Project Mogul II. :bleh:

[Doc]

Photographs seem to be the interstage between boosters, perhaps launched from Florida, noting the one electrical connect which seems to say "EIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER" it seems likely to be of U.S. origin.

[H]EIGHT Control

http://tribune.com.pk/story/473571/hatf-v-ghauri-test-metal-debris-all-part-of-plan/

"RAWALPINDI: The military confirmed on Friday that the metal parts found in a remote part of Dadu (http://tribune.com.pk/story/473092/skyfall-high-tech-debris-rains-on-dadu/) district of Sindh belonged to Hatf-V (Ghauri), a missile that was test-fired on Wednesday.


A spokesperson for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the test was a complete success and that the metal parts were part of the motor body (http://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=2209#pr_link2209), which separated from the missile as planned, well within the safety corridor."

[touched]

[H]EIGHT Control

http://tribune.com.pk/story/473571/hatf-v-ghauri-test-metal-debris-all-part-of-plan/

"RAWALPINDI: The military confirmed on Friday that the metal parts found in a remote part of Dadu (http://tribune.com.pk/story/473092/skyfall-high-tech-debris-rains-on-dadu/) district of Sindh belonged to Hatf-V (Ghauri), a missile that was test-fired on Wednesday.


A spokesperson for the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the test was a complete success and that the metal parts were part of the motor body (http://www.ispr.gov.pk/front/main.asp?o=t-press_release&id=2209#pr_link2209), which separated from the missile as planned, well within the safety corridor."

Well within the safety corridor ? In the RSOE EDIS feed if you go to the satellite map and look where the thing came down it just barely missed a structure. Several structures were in the area. It may have separated within the safety zone but imo it didn't come down within a safe area I wouldn't think. According to one article debris rained down in about 7 villages throughout the area.

With all the tons of space junk now in orbit I have the feeling that there will be much more falling to Earth in the future. Contaminants used to fuel much of these are another concern . Hopefully people will be aware of this and stay away from objects which rain down from above.

[Marvin]

If it really looked "shuttle" like (it would actually be the orbiter) then it could be an X-37B...



http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/101203-F-9709S-033.jpeg



But we really do not have much to go on.

[Marvin]

From the crash debris:


866


Based on the spacing of the letters, there is room for one letter on the left side of the word "EIGHT" separated by a blank space. If the letter is an "F" then it would be an "F EIGHT CONTROL COMPUTER," better known as a digital Fly-by-Wire. It is just a guess.

[Garuda]

@Marvin: the press reports it was a hatf ghauri missile that failed.

It was mentioned in a post above by Doc, and other media have taken up the story as well. See, e.g.:

http://defenceforumindia.com/pakistan-hatf-ghauri-missile-test-fails-crashes-977

[Marvin]

@Marvin: the press reports it was a hatf ghauri missile that failed.

It was mentioned in a post above by Doc, and other media have taken up the story as well. See, e.g.:

http://defenceforumindia.com/pakistan-hatf-ghauri-missile-test-fails-crashes-977



A missile would not have a "height" control... it would more likely be called an altitude control. On the other hand, the trajectory would be controlled by a guidance computer.


http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q223/bakosawa/HatfV.jpg


I saw the article making the claim it is a Hatf... but a Medium Range Ballistic Missile like the Hatf V does not resemble a “shuttle.” There are a number of missing “dots” in order to make connections on this crash and I do not always believe everything I see or read on the Net. The Hatf claim is a convenient way for the Pakistan government to lay claim to the debris and collect it. Only the "Chess Players" know for sure what game is really being played.

[ProblemChild]

Pakistan has a cruise missile the Hatf-8 Ra'ad. At a distance with nothing for scale it could resemble a space shuttle. It also would defo have a computer for terrain folllowing.

867


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi6A46ELVME

[Lee]

Thanks, Problemchild! That seems to like a likely candidate.

[Marvin]

Pakistan has a cruise missile the Hatf-8 Ra'ad. At a distance with nothing for scale it could resemble a space shuttle. It also would defo have a computer for terrain folllowing.

867


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi6A46ELVME



I was also looking at the Babur (Hatf VII) due to the paint scheme:


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Babur_aa.jpg/200px-Babur_aa.jpg

Verses the debris (on the left photo):

http://dawnurdu.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/hatf_v_parts_dadu_670_dawn.jpg?w=670&h=350

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babur_(cruise_missile)


But the truth may be it is a new (proto-type) missile being developed in Pakistan which went stray, or drone from outside of Pakistan. We'll just have to wait until more info comes out.