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NASA Says Satellite Falls to Earth, but Location a Mystery
KEVIN DREW and KENNETH CHANG
Published: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 4:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 4:15 a.m.
Debris from a six-ton satellite fell back to Earth but its location remained a mystery as scientists searched for debris, NASA said early on Saturday.
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The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, which fell to Earth late Friday or early Saturday, as it deployed from the space shuttle in 1991.
NASA, via Associated Press
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite plunged back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. ET and 1:09 ET, NASA said on its Web site. The re-entry time and location were still not known, the agency said, adding that the satellite was passing eastward over Canada and Africa, as well as vast portions of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans during that period.
The fate of the satellite stirred online interest and speculation Friday and early Saturday. NASA said through Twitter that debris remained the property of the U.S. government and warned that people should not approach or touch any pieces they might come across.
The satellite was expected to re-enter between 11:45 p.m. Friday and 12:45 a.m. Saturday. A day earlier, NASA had said it expected re-entry on Friday afternoon.
“The satellite’s orientation or configuration apparently has changed,” the space agency said in an earlier update. Perhaps some piece had broken off, leaving it more streamlined as it tumbled through the upper atmosphere. “That is now slowing its descent,” NASA said.
The satellite circles the Earth on a tilted orbit, and as the planet turns each day, different locations pass underneath.
At least 26 pieces, the largest at 330 pounds, are expected to survive the plunge and land along a path 500 miles long.
HomeNew York Times Feed
NASA Says Satellite Falls to Earth, but Location a Mystery
KEVIN DREW and KENNETH CHANG
Published: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 4:15 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, September 24, 2011 at 4:15 a.m.
Debris from a six-ton satellite fell back to Earth but its location remained a mystery as scientists searched for debris, NASA said early on Saturday.
Enlarge | Buy Photo
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, which fell to Earth late Friday or early Saturday, as it deployed from the space shuttle in 1991.
NASA, via Associated Press
The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite plunged back to Earth between 11:23 p.m. ET and 1:09 ET, NASA said on its Web site. The re-entry time and location were still not known, the agency said, adding that the satellite was passing eastward over Canada and Africa, as well as vast portions of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans during that period.
The fate of the satellite stirred online interest and speculation Friday and early Saturday. NASA said through Twitter that debris remained the property of the U.S. government and warned that people should not approach or touch any pieces they might come across.
The satellite was expected to re-enter between 11:45 p.m. Friday and 12:45 a.m. Saturday. A day earlier, NASA had said it expected re-entry on Friday afternoon.
“The satellite’s orientation or configuration apparently has changed,” the space agency said in an earlier update. Perhaps some piece had broken off, leaving it more streamlined as it tumbled through the upper atmosphere. “That is now slowing its descent,” NASA said.
The satellite circles the Earth on a tilted orbit, and as the planet turns each day, different locations pass underneath.
At least 26 pieces, the largest at 330 pounds, are expected to survive the plunge and land along a path 500 miles long.
