Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL in the early 1960s, the United States shot 480 000 000 copper needles into space (en.wikipedia.org)

submitted 4 days ago by Quilotoa@lemmy.ca to c/til@lemmy.ca

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[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 24 points 4 days ago (6 children)

I really don't like this, and not for the rational reasons

I keep picturing them in my eyes and nose (weird wired brain)

[–] KoboldCoterie@pawb.social 44 points 4 days ago (5 children)

Although the dispersed needles in the second experiment removed themselves from orbit within a few years, some of the dipoles that had not deployed correctly remained in clumps, contributing a small amount of the orbital debris tracked by NASA's Orbital Debris Program Office. Their numbers have been diminishing over time as they occasionally re-enter. As of April 2023, 44 clumps of needles larger than 10 cm were still known to be in orbit.

They're still up there. If they somehow survived re-entry, they could hit you. You could be innocently looking up and all of a sudden - copper needle from space, right in the eye.

[–] TheDoctorDonna@piefed.ca 13 points 4 days ago

Better than a toilet seat.

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