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Scientists To Give 20 Minute Heads-Up If The Satellite Will Fall On You This Weekend
By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Sep 23, 2011
Modified Sep 23, 2011
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By
Jamie Feldmar
Published Sep 23, 2011
Modified Sep 23, 2011
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Hey, guys, not trying to freak you out or anything, but remember that NASA satellite that's falling out of space? The one where NASA was all, "we don't know when or where, but keep an eye out?" Well, they still don't know where, but they do know when: this weekend. Per NASA:
"As of 9:30 p.m. EDT Sept. 22, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 110 mi by 115 mi (175 km by 185 km). Re-entry is possible sometime during the afternoon or early evening of Sept. 23, Eastern Daylight Time...It is still too early to predict the time and location of re-entry with any more certainty, but predictions will become more refined in the next 24 hours."
Oh, they also say that the satellite will not be passing over North America, but that hasn't stopped FEMA from getting all worked up about it.
Most of the six-ton satellite will burn up on re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere, but the heaviest parts, some weighing up to 300 lbs, will come crashing through. And don't trust the scientists—they'll only have about 20 minutes to warn people exactly where the satellite will hit.
Again, not to freak you out, but it COULD look something like this, only with satellites instead of meteords:
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Jamie Feldmar
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