[Rick Mullin]

Satellites finally collide in space--I hereby challenge you all to a race.

First one to write the perfect poem about this wins the drill and amusement.

I recuse myself, because I'm out-gunned, and...not really all that interested.

Have fun,
Rick

[Martin Elster]

TWO SATELLITES COLLIDE IN ORBIT

A broadside collision between two satellites -- one of them an operational Iridium communications relay -- was the worst orbital accident on record and may wind up rivaling the 2007 Chinese anti-satellite weapon test in the debris cloud it created. —Aviation Week

Open your eyes
to outer space
and you’ll see the debris
from a satellite crash.

I wonder how loud
the clang would have been
if sound waves could spread
where there’s no atmosphere.

If Earth had an ear
to hear it, her head,
from such a great din,
would split. A huge shroud

of rubble, like ash
from volcanoes, is free
to ram and erase
anything in the skies.

— Martin Elster

[Rick Mullin]

With renewed interest:

The three big dimensions no longer enough!
Then what good is even the rightest of stuff?

or,

Land of the question mark and the mysteria,
...satellite crash pad? O, pity Siberia!

[Michael Cantor]

Detelict and drunk, that Commie lump
of space-shit somehow found a way to bump
into our freedom-loving satellite?
It's time to show those creeps how eagles fight!

[Roger Slater]

Hey, Cantor, what's with the war bit?
These things happen when satellites orbit.

[Michael Cantor]

Forgive my cantorial internet chiding,
but the odds of two objects in orbit colliding
indicate that jihadists, if not communists
are behind this disaster, so clench up your fists
and prepare to do battle with pansies and Frogs,
and those who are named in the pertinent blogs.

[Roger Slater]

Miscommunications Satellite

Satellite One said something elliptical.
Satellite Two didn't like the thrust.
"My perigee is bigger than your apogee!"
said Two. One then struck back. Now both are dust.

[FOsen]

Now a French and a British submersible
Have a similar mishap - though cursable,
The results are more comic
Than (thank God) sub-atomic
And so, you might find them quite versable . . . .

Par example,

A Brit sub and French sub one night,
Bumped noses while off of the bight,
Said le capitain, Malgré,
Ceci n’est pas Trafalgar,
We give up, but please drive on the right!

Frank

[FOsen]

Ou . . .

Said Pierre, "We've no need to rehearse
What to do when our navy's submersed.
It’s not our fault they clipped,
Each Franch warship's equipped
With thirty-two gears in reverse!”

When the dent in the Vanguard’s hull blew
Some Jack Tar got bespattered with poo,
For Triomphant’s sharp tapper
Struck them right in the crapper;
Now the French have avenged Waterloo.

Oh God, someone, stop meeee!

Two paths converged down deep below,
The fault’s unclear - the limies, though,
Declare that they deserve a pass;
As proof, they cite the French sub’s class,
Which bears the name of Cyrano.

My nurse is bringing the meds now.

[Michael Cantor]

A Francophile poet said Moi?
when accused of indulging in foi
gras, but the stench
of everything French
gives good reason why Frank's now Francois.