Accidental collision (automat translation from Romanian language)

For the first time in the history of exploring outer space is an accidental collision between two artificial satellites. The event took place, according to statement of NASA officials, on 11 February 2009 at 04:55 GMT about 790 km altitude, somewhere over Siberia. The clash were involved an American IRIDIUM satellite, functional, with the mass of 560kg and a Russian satellite, not functional, weight 900 kg. IRIDIUM satellite constellation consists of 66 satellites
orbiting around the Earth tilted on orbite low. They ensure the operation of mobile networks globally, with direct access to the satellite phone. Any malfunctions that may arise from the event will be resolved by placing a spare satellite with the same orbital
parameters of the destroyed.
This first accident of the new space brings in current issue of monitoring and finding solutions to neutralize the waste space. The number of these dead satellites that can not be controlled from Earth is growing. Also, various fragments derived from space activities can endanger the functioning of other satellites or even the challenge of accidents, even in case of tasks with the human crew.
No more one year ago, USA193 satellite intelligence had destroyed by a U.S. Marine for the out of control and hit an unstable orbit at an altitude too low, where rubbing (even with layers of very thin atmosphere) and were hurried end. Due to large size, this satellite was a real danger, as could not say with certainty that he will burn up (as most media) entry into the atmosphere. At that time, following a link on this blog, you could watch in real time the position of the satellite in the sky, and those who were curious, were able to see it in the evenings to clear the month of February 2008 even with the eye free.