Huge Tumbling Satellite Could Fall to Earth Over US Tonight or Saturday, NASA Says (UPDATED)

Space.com ^ | 9/23/11 | Tariq Malik

[Evil Slayer]

A huge, dead satellite tumbling to Earth is falling slower than expected, and may now plummet down somewhere over the United States tonight or early Saturday, despite forecasts that it would miss North America entirely, NASA officials now say.

The 6 1/2-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) was expected to fall to Earth sometime this afternoon (Sept. 23), but changes in the school bus-size satellite's motion may push it to early Saturday, according to NASA's latest observations of the spacecraft.

"The satellite's orientation or configuration apparently has changed, and that is now slowing its descent," NASA officials wrote in a morning status update today. "There is a low probability any debris that survives re-entry will land in the United States, but the possibility cannot be discounted because of this changing rate of descent."

NASA expects about 26 large pieces of the UARS spacecraft to survive re-entry through Earth's atmosphere and reach the planet's surface. The biggest piece should weigh about 300 pounds. The spacecraft is the largest NASA satellite to fall from space uncontrolled since 1979.

[Raycpa]

I assume the are the lowest part of the range. First as to orbit then as to beginning of breakup.

[cmsgop]

I’m east of redmond ,WA I did not see anything......

[eyedigress]

It will never make it. Johannesburg might get a glimpse.

[bd476]

Thanks. I had to re-boot my computer and just got back. I'm assuming that USAF and NORAD are also keeping an eye on it.

[Jet Jaguar]

Headed to Newfoundland then off to Africa again.

[IM2MAD]

Won’t it be much farther north on the next pass?

[Cementjungle]

No, nothing. I have a good view too, since I live right on the water.

[Cementjungle]

Yep... next pass I guess it’ll be another 1000 miles north.

[eyedigress]

Any Freepers hanging out around Hudson Bay............

[Jack Hydrazine]

Flying in the dirty configuration.

[The Cajun]

The lights weren't in the shape of a triangle or *V* per chance?

Sorry, couldn't resist :^)

[xjcsa]

It looks like it would have to survive another two orbits or so - 3-4 hours - to be a threat to much of the USA.

[steve86]

Really interesting if that was it. I would have thought it would put on a profound light show, though, not a subtle one. Couldn’t see anything from my perch in south central WA.

[djf]

TR3-b???

[Jack Hydrazine]

Looks like it is over the N. Atlantic headed for western Africa. If it lands over there it’s going to be gone before any government agencies find it.

[Jack Hydrazine]

They usually do keep an eye on all orbiting objects.

[Art in Idaho]

No V, lol, kind of like a sparkler, if that makes any sense, the lights were random, not like an airliner, but a 'tight group' so to speak. . nothing like I've ever seen. Was just relieved to see it 'stay up there' and keep going. Heard a delayed sound afterwards, but didn't sound like a plane. .

[Future Useless Eater]

There is always the occasional chatter that someday, an asteroid will hit us, and we might blast it into smaller chunks first.

If that were even remotely possible, we could and should practice blowing this satellite into itty bitty chunks before it crashes.

We KNOW exactly where it is. We know its orbit. We could intercept, or try out satellite smashing missiles, if those exist.

[eyedigress]

Was there any re-entry Coca-Colas on board.................

[xjcsa]

Went outside. I think I saw it. Lots of little lights, erratic, stayed together, passed high overhead, in a NW trajectory, to the Calgary area. A plane, maybe, but too many individual lights, and not a perfectly straight line. . at one time 6 or 7 spotty lights.

I think in your area it would have been traveling southwest to northeast.