FAA Warns Pilots About Falling Satellite

The Federal Aviation Administration is warning pilots flying aircraft today to be on the lookout for falling debris from a defunct NASA satellite that is expected to reenter Earth's atmosphere this afternoon or early this evening.

NASA officials say the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite will not be passing over North America during that time period. So no debris is expected to fall in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or Central America.

Nonetheless, the FAA put out the Notice To Airmen as a precaution today:

!FDC 1/2095 FDC .. SPECIAL NOTICE .. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UNTIL 1109252359 UTC. AIRCRAFT ARE ADVISED THAT A POTENTIAL HAZARD MAY OCCUR DUE TO REENTRY OF SATELLITE UARS INTO THE EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE. FURTHER NOTAMS WILL BE ISSUED IF SPECIFIC INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. IN THE INTEREST OF FLIGHT SAFETY, IT IS CRITICAL THAT ALL PILOTS/FLIGHT CREW MEMBERS REPORT ANY OBSERVED FALLING SPACE DEBRIS TO THE APPROPRIATE ATC FACILITY AND INCLUDE POSITION, ALTITUDE, TIME, AND DIRECTION OF DEBRIS OBSERVED. THE DOMESTIC EVENTS NETWORK /DEN/ TELEPHONE 202-493-5107, IS THE FAA COORDINATION FACILITY.