Saturday, September 24, 2011

NASA satellite back, but exactly where still unknown

UPDATE 11 a.m.: Still no official word on where it landed.

NASA’s decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite fell back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. Friday and 1:09 a.m. today, NASA said.

The satellite was passing eastward over Canada and Africa as well as areas of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans during that period.

Exactly what time and where it entered are still unknown. But NASA tweeted: "If debris fell on land (and that's still a BIG if), Canada is most likely area."

NASA had expected most of the satellite to burn up during atmospheric reentry. But 26 spacecraft components weighing a combined total of 1,200 pounds were expected to survive and strike Earth.

The risk to public safety was considered remote.

Odds of a single person, somewhere on the planet, being struck: 1 in 3,200.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Did anyone hear any Sonic Booms last night around 11:40pm to 11:50pm? UARS paased over the Brevard County area