You have in all probability heard that China ’s Tiangong-1 place station willfall to Earth this weekend . It ’s exciting stuff , but this isnot the first timea space place has had an untimely clash back to Earth within the cosmos ’s aliveness retentiveness .
America ’s first manned space station , Skylab , had a in particular memorable re - first appearance to Earth , conduct to a specially funny story involve bitterly sarcastic Aussies , a presidential excuse , and a $ 400 fine .
In July 1979 , the world ’s media observe as Skylab uncontrollably fell back to Earth . The blank station weighed a whopping 77,000 kilo ( 170,000 lbf. ) – for comparison , Tiangong-1 is a measly 8,500 kilograms ( 18,700 pounds ) .
The mission had been harry with trouble from the moment it launched in 1973 , come after by a continual string of money hassle and proficient failures . By 1974 , most of NASA ’s investment and attention was being channeled towards the space shuttle plan , so Skylab hadessentially been abandonedwith no gang nor erotic love . It finally fall into orbital disintegration after being batter by some unseasonably stiff solar activity .
Skylab crush into Earth ’s atmosphere on July 11 , 1979 , and rain down chunks of debris across the Indian Ocean , South Atlantic , and Western Australia . Fortunately , no one was hurt and there was minimum impairment to the environment .
It led to President Jimmy Carter sending an apology to Australia , as perThe New York Times , that record :
“ I was concerned to see that fragments of Skylab may have landed in Australia . I am relieved to get word your governance ’s preliminary judgment that no injuries have resulted . Nevertheless , I have instruct the Department of State to be in sense of touch with your Government like a shot and to propose any assistance that you may require . ”
However , the minuscule Ithiel Town of Esperance was having none of it . This outside beachside town on the south coast of Australia tongue-in-cheek cut a $ 400 mulct to the US for littering . NASA and the US ignore the pecker and it was canceled by the Aussies just three months later .
Over 30 years later , Californian radiocommunication DJ Scott Barley determine to finally put things ripe . After translate about the mulct on Wikipedia , he collected donations from his hearer and sent the full $ 400 over to Esperance .
“ I think this fact of the amateur account was rather funny , ” Barley toldThe Esperance Express in 2009.“I want hearer to start off 2009 with a generous offering of goodwill to our Australian admirer in the south of the equator . ”
All ’s well that ends well . rent ’s just hope that Tiangong-1 stays well clear of Esperance or else Beijing is go to meet a strongly - worded letter .
