From the Low Earth Orbit Tracking Lab twitter account:
We are monitoring a very high risk conjunction between two large defunct objects in LEO. Multiple data points show miss distance <25m and Pc between 1% and 20%. Combined mass of both objects is ~2,800kg.
— LeoLabs, Inc. (@LeoLabs_Space) October 13, 2020
Object 1: 19826
Object 2: 36123
TCA: Oct 16 00:56UTC
Event altitude: 991km pic.twitter.com/6yWDx7bziw
Normally, these satellites would fire a rocket, de-orbit and splash down into the ocean but these two birds were built before that was a requirement. The objects are a Parus navigation satellite (Kosmos-2004), launched in 1989, and the Chang Zheng-4C Y4 third stage rocket launched in 2009. They are flying in opposed orbits so the combined velocity is high. Kessler syndrome anyone?
Duck...
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