[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.

[R. S. Gwynn]

Satellites collide in space.
French and British subs do, too.
Such a figure! Such a face!
May I soon collide with you.

Cole Porter

[Maryann Corbett]

The French and British subs are colliding in space?

(Sorry. Couldn't help myself. Going away now.....)

[R. S. Gwynn]

Even Cole nods.

[R. S. Gwynn]

Satellites collide in space.
Deep in oceans subs do, too.
Such a figure! Such a face!
May I soon collide with you.

Autos crash and fenders bend.
Sumo wrestlers butt and grunt.
Boxcars couple end to end.
May we soon be front to front.

Tugs and liners bump in port.
Airplanes tangle far above.
But disaster's not our sport.
Let's collide and call it love.

Pole Corter