A map showing the area between 42.8 degrees north and 42.8 degrees south latitudes (in green), over which Tiangong-1 could re-enter. The graph at left shows population density.
Posted on 03/03/2018 2:06:48 AM PST by LibWhacker
The European Space Agency (ESA) has issued a new re-entry forecast for China's Tiangong-1 space lab.
The 8.5-ton spacecraft is now expected to fall into Earth's atmosphere between March 24 and April 19, though ESA officials stressed that this is a rough estimate.
"Re-entry will take place anywhere between 43 degrees north and 43 degrees south (e.g. Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, etc.)" latitude, officials with the Space Debris Office at ESA’s European Space Operations Center in Darmstadt, Germany, wrote in an update last week. "Areas outside of these latitudes can be excluded. At no time will a precise time/location prediction from ESA be possible."
Tiangong-1 was the first space lab built by China. It launched in late September 2011, to help the nation master the technologies needed to construct and operate a crewed space station. China aims to have such a station up and running in Earth orbit by the 2020s.
A map showing the area between 42.8 degrees north and 42.8 degrees south latitudes (in green), over which Tiangong-1 could re-enter. The graph at left shows population density.
The first Chinese orbital docking occurred between Tiangong-1 and an unpiloted Shenzhou spacecraft on Nov. 2, 2011. Two crewed missions later visited Tiangong-1: Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 10, which launched in June 2012 and June 2013, respectively.
OK Watch out. Run that way. O Move Yeow. Run!
Give Kim Jong-un a catcher’s mitt and tell him where to stand.
Ah, the sweet smell of charred Hoi Shin Sauce!
death from the sky; squish, go see God.
That is kind of a large area. they can’t narrow it down a little?
Well, at least they were able to narrow it down to: someplace on Earth.
Bang ding ow!
"A shadow shall fall over the universe.
And Evil will grow in it's path.
And Death will come from the skies."
Watch it smack that meteor in Mecca.
Million to one shot, doc!
Looks like I’ll be spending a few days in Montreal....it’ll give me a chance to brush up on my French.Voulez-vous couche avac moi?
Nothing I can see about how much of this thing ought to be left when it gets to the surface. One would wish there was a way to nudge it into the ocean.
Maybe some good lawsuits?
Can’t sue till this one lands, but still. Surely there ought to be a way to “tow in” large pieces of space junk.
China’s Big Space Lab May Fall to Earth This Month
Or, it may not.
The Euro Space Agency can't give a re-entry date better than MAR 24-APR 19. In almost 4 weeks, the station circles the planet many times.
Sum ting wong
The Samurai Delicatessen guy !
Gather all demonrats put in big bag, tie to rope and let them drag it into Reentry. Watch all burn up.
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