[EAS] A never used function for the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)

[Sean Donelan]

Yes, I mean EBS.

In the 1960s, during the space race, the commander of NORAD had the 
authority to activate the EBS in the event of unconrolled reentry of 
spacecraft/debris over the US (and notified Canadian officials). 
Obviously that function was never used, but the authority was in the old 
EBS planning documents.

After the 1970s, the space debris re-entry warning function wasn't 
mentioned in EBS planning documents anymore.  I'm guessing it vanished 
with Nixon's executive order after a test tape triggered the false alert.

Now that the Administrator of FEMA has the authority to activate the 
Emergency Alert System (EAS, note the initials changed)....

Guess what's happening this weekend?  The rocket will likely crash in the 
ocean, because there is lots of ocean.  But if the rocket crashes 
somewhere important, without a public warning...

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/04/politics/chinese-rocket-earth-scn/index.html

Pentagon tracking out-of-control Chinese rocket that could reenter Earth's 
atmosphere

The Pentagon has said it is tracking a large Chinese rocket that is out of 
control and set to reenter Earth's atmosphere this weekend, raising 
concerns about where its debris may make impact.

The Chinese Long March 5B rocket is expected to enter Earth's atmosphere 
"around May 8," according to a statement from Defense Department 
spokesperson Mike Howard, who said the US Space Command is tracking the 
rocket's trajectory.

The rocket's "exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere" can't be 
pinpointed until within hours of reentry, Howard said, but the 18th Space 
Control Squadron will provide daily updates on the rocket's location 
through the Space Track website. The rocket was used by the Chinese to 
launch part of their space station last week. While most space debris 
objects burn up in the atmosphere, the rocket's size -- 22 tons -- has 
prompted concern that large parts could reenter and cause damage if they 
hit inhabited areas.