Science News
Large satellite to fall back to Earth, location unknown
Sep 23, 2011, 1:23 GMT
Washington - A dead research satellite is due to crash back to Earth sometime Friday, but exactly where and when remains uncertain.
NASA was closely monitoring the 6-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite and said it would re-enter Earth's atmosphere during the US afternoon, but could not provide more exact predictions until closer to the event.
The satellite would be somewhere between 57 degrees north and 57 degrees south, but any debris would most likely land in the ocean, the space agency said.
Much of the satellite would burn up as it comes into Earth's atmosphere, but because of the size, some pieces would make it to the surface.
The risk of being injured by falling debris is incredibly slim, with a 1 in 3,200 chance of any human being struck by a piece.
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