Dead US satellite re-enters atmosphere; no problems reported

Sep 24, 2011, 8:07 GMT

Washington - Parts of a 6-ton research satellite re-entered the Earth's atmosphere early Saturday, the US space agency NASA reported, without providing any specific details.

The decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research satellite fell to Earth between 0323 and 0509 GMT, reported NASA.

'The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California said the satellite penetrated the atmosphere over the Pacific Ocean. The precise re-entry time and location are not yet known with certainty,' read a statement.

There were no reports of the satellite's remains striking any populated areas or causing any deaths or damage.

Much of the satellite had been expected to burn up as it entered the atmosphere. But, because of its size, some pieces could have reached the surface, NASA said.

Experts at the European Space Agency ESA in Darmstadt, Germany, expected little more than 500 kilograms to survive the burn, which they said would likely break the residue into about 20 pieces.

The chances of being struck by falling debris was about 1 in 3,200. Since the space age began in the late 1950s, NASA said there have been no confirmed reports of injury or significant property damage from objects falling to Earth.

The research craft was launched in 1991 to measure the ozone lawyer and the atmosphere. Its work ended in 2005.

The NASA link for information: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/uars/index.html