Post date: Sep 23, 2011 7:9:50 PM
NASA says one of its defunct science satellites will crash to earth on September 23, "plus or minus a day."
NASA - A defunct NASA science satellite dispatched by a space shuttle crew in 1991 will come crashing back to Earth soon, with debris most likely landing in an ocean or unpopulated region, NASA officials said.
In a statement released on its website on Sunday (September 18) NASA said re-entry was expected on Friday (September 23), "plus or minus a day."
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, was turned off in 2005, becoming another piece of space junk loitering in Earth orbit.
Most of UARS will burn up in the atmosphere, but up to 26 individual pieces, with a combined mass of about 1,100 pounds (500 kg), will survive the fall, NASA officials told Reuters.
The largest chunk, part of the spacecraft's structure, is expected to be about 331 pounds (150 kg).
The debris most likely will land in an ocean or in an uninhabited region of Earth.
The satellite's orbit takes it over most of the planet, from as far north as northern Canada to the southern part of South America.
The satellite is so big, its plunge through the atmosphere will be visible -- if anyone is around to see it, NASA said.