Changing Path of Falling Satellite Puts US Within Possible Strike Zone
The public uses social media to vent concern about approaching satellite
The public is abuzz with news that NASA’s falling satellite has changed orientation, a development that has officially put the U.S. in the possible strike zone. The satellite was due to soar over Italy at about 4.30 p.m EST.
The satellite, although most likely going to land in the ocean north of Australia, could potentially land in the east United States within the triangle connecting Texas, Michigan and Florida.
It is expected to enter the earth’s atmosphere late Friday evening or early Saturday morning. According to the NASA press release, scientists can not yet determine the location of landing due to changing orbit speed.
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The public is taking to the media airwaves to express their concern, laughter, or plain apathy over the 5,440 kilogram behemoth.
Some people are using comedy to deal with the potential panic, and remain un-phased by the school bus-sized dead satellite plummeting to earth.
“I don't know why people are worrying about being hit by a bus-sized #satellite. You're far more likely to be hit by a satellite-sized bus” tweeted MrsStephenFrye.
Experts predict that there is a 1 in 3,200 chance of the satellite hitting a human, which are better odds than getting killed by a shark at 3,000,000 to 1 or getting a hole in one in golf which stands at 5,000 to 1.
“There's a satellite crashing into earth tomorrow. It's not too late to send Bruce Willis & Ben Affleck up there...permanently. #UARS” tweeted MattRod, or Matt Rodriguez.
Others simply don’t know, or just don’t care.
“What is going on with this whole satellite hitting earth catastrophe,” tweeted Shaymichael8.
Scientists at NASA are taking a “business as usual” approach to the anticipated landing, remaining calm and collected.
“There is a low probability any debris that survives re-entry will fall in the United States” NASA tweeted.
The U.S. tracks 22,000 pieces of satellites and other man made space debris orbiting the earth.
