Posted on 03/11/2026 5:37:51 AM PDT by V_TWIN
A 600-kilogram NASA satellite will enter Earth’s atmosphere tomorrow.
The Van Allen Probe A research satellite, weighing approximately 600 kilograms and launched in 2011, is scheduled to enter Earth’s atmosphere on March 11.
The Space Force’s estimated reentry time is just that — an estimate. It will be updated in the coming hours, as more and better data come in.”
(Excerpt) Read more at thegatewaypundit.com ...
Whenever anything going that fast strikes the earth and hits dry land, there’s bound to be bugs and earthworms and such killed. But if Wikipedia can be believed on this one, there’s only ever been one animal “of note” (claimed to have been) killed by falling debris from a satellite, and that was a lamb in India.
There have been people struck directly as well as hit by debris kicked up by an impact close by but all with relatively minor injuries.
For 15 years after the the SST Columbia broke up crossing Texas at Mach 23* at an altitude of about 44 miles in 2003 (space ‘technically’ ends at 62 miles altitude), over a 15 year period some 83,900 pieces of debris (including body parts of six of the seven astronauts) weighing a collective 84,900 were recovered in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, but no one was hit.
More than 80,000 pieces of debris averaging a pound apiece in weight in a single event, and there were no human injuries. Which speaks to the statistical risk from these events.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_space_debris_fall_incidents
*The SST, not the SR-71 (not even the X-15, which conveniently gets overlooked in these arguments), is the fastest airplane ever flown, and it was its fastest in unpowered (gliding) flight.
The satellite has the aerodynamics of a barn. Virtually everything will burn up and it seems likely that all the Earth will get is a little satellite dust.
That’s funny!
likely that all the Earth will get is a
little satellite dust.
*********
Reckon that little dust will have the smell
of a barn burning down?
...(including body parts of six of the seven astronauts)...
What about the 7th astronaut? Was the body completely disintegrated? Or recovered intact?
I sure miss the good old Skylab days of helmets and pillows strapped to the dog.
RE: ...I’ve been having a bad run of luck this week.
Please watch the skies.”
On May 5, 1945, near Bly, Oregon, 26-year-old Elsie Mitchell and five children (ages 11–14) were killed when they discovered and triggered a Japanese “fire balloon” (Fugo) while on a picnic in the Fremont National Forest.”
Google and AI no longer allow me to find the true story of one man who was out walking in California in the 1940s and hit on the head by a fire lantern from Japan. His story was brought back during the time a few years ago when people at celebrations outside were launching sky lanterns and people thought they were UFOs. Tight lipped about them because houses and fields caught fire as they landed. Illegal in most places.
gif....
Cute dog.
Ran under the bed when the TV guy said “after our break we will hear from Hillary Clinton.”
Woulda been a great movie if it wasn’t for will smith
Reminds me of the news story of bears coming into people’s yards and then houses from the rear doors.
One got into the house and the owner said his bulldog ran inside and got into the bathtub to hide. Not ready to sacrifice all like the movie dogs.
I remember doing that in elementary school for nuclear attack drills.
Heard she was dazed and then became a lifelong Libertarian voter.
A bear? Smart dog. He’s probably thinking “I didnt read anything about bears in this contract!”
Maybe I could ge NASA to buy me that roof I need.
Not the roof. Closest you’ll get is the benefit minus copay for a shingles shot.
Just don’t crack it open.
Ever seen The Andromeda Strain?
Thank you for the chuckle. I needed that.
> I remember doing that in elementary school for nuclear attack drills. <
I as well. My elementary school had a rudimentary bomb shelter in the basement. It had some food and water, too. But the shelter wasn’t big enough for the whole school. Fortunately for me, my class was one that got a shelter assignment.
So when the siren went off, off I’d go to the bomb shelter. I’d see other kids in classrooms, hiding under their desks. And I’d say to myself, poor bastards.
Or 1988’s The Blob?
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