usatoday.com — QuikScat was launched in 1999 and was designed to last 2 to 3 years. Now it's limping along on a backup transmitter that could fail at any time without warning. If it does, other satellites give less precise data, widening the "cone of error." Evac orders need to be precise, because evacuations cost up to $1 million per mile of coastline.
Jun 30, 2007 View in Crawl 4
jasdfJul 1, 2007
Oh no! It's another government conspiracy to kill it's own citizens!!!!/sarcasm
theother1Jul 1, 2007
"QuikScat, launched in 1999 and designed to last two to three years, provides key data on wind speed and direction over the ocean."It's already lasted three to four times as long as it was designed for. Plans should have been in the works for a replacement in 2000.
error601Jul 1, 2007
Their numbers seem to indicate an almost insignificant change if this one among many happens to fail. It sounds like the usual government department trying to make things sound bad to get more tax money diverted to them.
masamunecyrusJul 1, 2007
Right in time for the La Niña, too.
numnumwhatJul 3, 2007
Ha! Awesome point. Blitzcraig711 is clueless.
jim7outApr 30, 2008
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