Russia's Progress spacecraft set to crash to Earth within 12 hours

The Guardian ^ | 7 May 2015 | Ian Sample

[McGruff]

A Russian spacecraft that broke down on its way to the International Space Station last week will burn up in a bright fireball as it falls back to Earth overnight, according to the country’s space agency.

The uncrewed Progress 59P cargo vessel has been tumbling around the planet at about 17,000mph since it reached orbit last Tuesday. With the Russian Space Agency unable to regain control, the malfunctioning spacecraft began to spiral down to its inevitable destruction.

[McGruff]

Scientists say only 20-40% of uncrewed cargo vessel likely to survive heat of re-entry and risk of people being hit is smaller than being hit by lightning

[A CA Guy]

Not good for somebody.

[Ingtar]

Is it smaller than being hit by a toilet seat from Skylab?

[Blood of Tyrants]

Some enterprising insurance salesman ought to be selling space junk insurance.

[dainbramaged]

Hopefully it hits an ocean.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

[jsanders2001]

>?Is it smaller than being hit by a toilet seat from Skylab?

Or its contents...

[dfwgator]

"Oh my God, they killed Kenny"

[TangoLimaSierra]

Has anyone here seen a projected debris map?

[A CA Guy]

Dropping spacecraft privilege?

[George from New England]

Probably still a very wide debris map, in a few hours it’ll be narrower.

[prisoner6]

In an episode of Northern Exposure 90's TV show one of Maggie's boyfriends was hit and killed by a Russian satellite.

Leftist TV show but featured conservative Janine Taylor. She was hot.

[Licensed-To-Carry]

I hope it hits my barn, I need a new one.

[thorvaldr]

The article says about a metric ton of debris, mostly hitting the ocean, some of it maybe hitting Africa and China.

[StormEye]

"Hopefully it hits an ocean."

I hope it strikes an ISIS numbskull or some other crazy Islamic fanatic. (Landing on the White Mosque or a Democrat Party honcho scores extra points.)

[Boogieman]

Well, the article says it is probably going to hit the ocean, but maybe Africa or China. Considering those are just about the 3 biggest targets on the globe, it sounds to me like they really have no idea where it will hit and are just guessing.

[dfwgator]

I hope it hits the Kardashian compound.

[BenLurkin]

[muir_redwoods]

I thought it was SOP for previous supply vessels to burn up on reentry. If not, what became of those ships?

[Larry Lucido]