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.

[I see my hands]

What are the odds of its crashing into a whale?

[count-your-change]

Prank? I could make the pieces in no time. A few pieces of scrap metal and a torch will do wonders! Each with a “Certificate of Authenticity”.

If someone really did (or tried) it wouldn’t surprise me.

[Myrddin]

I plugged my current San Diego coordinates into the Heavens Above site and updated the URL with my coordinates with their UARS tracker.

[mountn man]

So whats the pay out if I bet $1000 that it won't hit me???

I don't want to bet all my money. What happens if I'm wrong? :)

[Petruchio]

Fine with me . . .

. . . as long as the debris only rains down on Planned Parenthood Clinics and ACORN Offices.

(I know, I know, it won’t happen but just the thought of the lamestream media trying to explain it tickles me.)

[Myrddin]

It is supposed to leave a 500 mile long debris track on the way down. It is also supposed to have a nuclear power supply. Potentially a "dirty bomb" consequence if the contents leak as it breaks up.

[Jack Hydrazine]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. The CoA would be the icing on the cake! LOL!

Next thing you know NASA would send in its own SWAT team to recover it! LOL!

[Locomotive Breath]

Not with Federal property. Try bringing up any piece of a sunken US Navy ship and see what happens.

[patton]

The 300-lb chunk (Guess what that is?) is expected to land intact.

I wonder why, now, the US Governemnt has announced that any piece hitting the ground is US government property, and they will rapidly collect it?

Yeah, there are some rare metals aboard. Plutonium, irridum ...

If it hits your land, take a photo and get out of dodge. Take your dogs with you - they will likely not survive the impending SWAT response.

[count-your-change]

Why...that 6 1/2 ton satellite could actually gain weight after landing.

[Abigail Adams]

All your deorbiting satellite space junk are belong to us!

[Georgia Girl 2]

I was hoping for Iran.

[patton]

LOL! good one.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Like my M-I-L?

[Myrddin]

San Diego pass at 7:47 PDT this evening

[Red Badger]

This could not be considered an ‘Act of God’ by an insurance company. It would be no different than an aircraft crashing on your house. They owner of the aircraft is responsible for your damages, you just ask the the insurance company to subrogate the claim.........

[Gettin Betta]

as usual, they have no idea when or where it will happen. none, zip, nada. Just like global warming and hurricane predictions. My guess is as good as thiers. They don't have a clue. My faith in any scientific predictions becoming reality is long gone.

[count-your-change]

Best I not say.

[whodathunkit]

and it would be fun to have that on your tombstone

Now, that there is funny!!!

[RckyRaCoCo]

First I couldn’t get my hands on an HP 32GB Touchpad....now this.