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The Vox Box

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What are the Odds?

A defunctional Russian nuclear satellite and a still-active U.S. Iridium satellite smashed into each other 500 miles over Siberia on Tuesday, and some scientists call the accident "catastrophic."

Simulations by software company AGI explain why-- together, the satellites weighed over 3,000 pounds, have created hundreds of pieces of debris, and the multitude of space junk orbiting earth prior to the collision is estimated at 17,000 pieces.

The collision occured about 500 miles from earth-a popular orbit space for satellites. And there's no global air traffic control system that tracks the position of all satellites. (AP)

An artist's impression of the cloud of debris over earth shows Russia's hopes that the collision would force the new U.S. administration to address the issue of debris in space.

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.