US satellite may crash back to earth next week

[robbie c]

Saw this on Yahoo News a decommissioned satellite could land anywhere between 57degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude re-entry expected 23 Sept plus or minus a day

I don't think that's in my back garden

[laser_jock99]

Been following this story for a while looking for more detailed information on when / where it's supposed to come down.

I think we ought to organize a watch night on SGL?

[robbie c]

Been following this story for a while looking for more detailed information on when / where it's supposed to come down.

I think we ought to organize a watch night on SGL?

I'm all for that:icon_salut:

[laser_jock99]

It's looking like sometime on Friday.....plus or minus a day.

Satellite Falling To Earth: Nasa Satellite UARS To Fall To Earth On Friday, Say Scientists | Technology | Sky News

Nasa site:

NASA - UARS

[Smeg]

Maybe it is not the satellite that is crashing to the Earth, but the Earth crashing into the satellite?

NASA always covers up the truth.

[bombassa]

If insurance covers then feel free to hit my garage.

It really needs a rebuild.

[robbie c]

If insurance covers then feel free to hit my garage.

It really needs a rebuild.

I can just imagine the look on the insurance man's face who looks at your claim form

How did the damage happen

A satellite fell out of the sky and went through my garage roof :D

[yeti monster]

I'm hoping for Friday 23rd around 18:49 local time, that way it'll have just passed overhead and I won't get hit but would have a wonderful view of the sparkly bits....

[Steve922]

If insurance covers then feel free to hit my garage.

I think you're out of luck there - almost certainly will come under 'Act of God'

Steve

[Domis]

Don't worry, NASA states the impact area can be more accurately predicted within two hours of impact. Plenty of time to grab a hard hat.

[calibos]

So I take it the forecast is for 100% cloud cover on THUR/FRI/SAT then?

[yeti monster]

I think you're out of luck there - almost certainly will come under 'Act of God'

Steve

How can they be so sure? Do they have some sort of proof that g*d exists? Oh, hang on, this is insurance companies isn't it, silly me, they'll use any excuse not to pay out on a claim....

[Merlin66]

They'll probably dump it in the Aussie outback, like they did the last time!

[yeti monster]

^^^well that's no use to man nor beast, we want NASA fireworks!

[Merlin66]

Space Weather News for Sept. 20, 2011

SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids

UARS, a NASA satellite the size of a small bus, will re-enter Earth's atmosphere later this week producing a brilliant fireball somewhere over our planet. Best estimates place the re-entry time during the late hours of Sept. 23rd over a still-unknown region of Earth. Observers of the rapidly-decaying satellite say it is tumbling and flashing, sometimes almost as brightly as Venus. Video images featured on today's edition of SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids show how the doomed satellite looks through a backyard telescope.

Readers who would like to catch a last glimpse of UARS streaking across the night sky should check SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker for flyby times: Spaceweather.com's Simple Satellite Tracker: International Space Station, spy satellites, Hubble Space Telescope . You can also turn your smartphone into a UARS tracker by downloading our Simple Flybys app: Simple Flybys for iPhone and iPod Touch

[yeti monster]

Check also Heavens Above, who are listing it, hence my desire for 23rd at 18:49 local time (GMT+8). Wouldn't it be just brilliant to see a burn up?

[Hypernova]

There are no visible passes over the UK according to HA and CalSky before the expected re-entry date so we won't be able to see it unless it happens to burn up nearby, which would be quite a sight

I just hope that we get some clear skies over the weekend to give us any chance of viewing it as it comes back to earth.

[laser_jock99]

Update #6

Wed, 21 Sep 2011 01:03:34 PM UTC+0100

As of Sept. 21, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 120 mi by 130 mi (195 km by 210 km). Re-entry is expected Sept. 23, United States time. The time reference does not mean that the satellite is expected to re-enter over the United States. It is simply a time reference. Although it is still too early to predict the time and location of re-entry, predictions of the time period are becoming more refined.

[bombassa]

You may laugh but now danish police is warning people not to touch debris from the satellite.

My garage is still in the line of fire.

And I might just win the lottery this weekend as well.

[laser_jock99]

Update #8

22 September 2011, 12:44:51

As of 7 a.m. EDT Sept. 22, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 115 mi by 120 mi (185 km by 195 km). Re-entry is expected sometime during the afternoon of Sept. 23, Eastern Daylight Time. The satellite will not be passing over North America during that time period. 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 to 36 hours.

[Smeg]

That's going to ruin somebodies weekend

And of course, America's junk doesn't land on America lol

Somebody else gets to clean it up

[bombassa]

I admit I don't know anything about spacetravel and orbits and all that stuff.

But isn't it possible to push the junk out in space instead?

Let the aliens have it.

[Smeg]

I admit I don't know anything about spacetravel and orbits and all that stuff.

But isn't it possible to push the junk out in space instead?

Let the aliens have it.

Nope I say we let it land on Amager

[franco]

apparently if it lands on your house you can sue NASA but you can't sell it on ebay

[MjrTom]

apparently if it lands on your house you can sue NASA but you can't sell it on ebay

Are the Feds gonna come banging on your door for bits of their defunct satellite?

IF I found any bits I just would not tell anyone