NASA Predicts Falling Satellite Will Hit North of Australia
Climate satellite is expected to hit earth sometime today
The NASA satellite falling from space is predicted to land Friday, most likely in the ocean north of Australia.
The 6.5-ton climate satellite, which is the size of a school bus, monitored ozone and chemical counts in the upper hemisphere. Known as UARS, it has been in orbit for 20 years.
Currently in its final approach, scientists expect the satellite to hit earth at approximately 3 p.m. Friday.
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According to ABC News, NASA predicts the satellite will hit the ocean somewhere north of Australia, but it is still too early to tell for certain.
Most of it will dissolve into the earth’s atmosphere, but 26 pieces, composed primarily of titanium, beryllium, and stainless steel, will remain intact. The pieces could range in size from ten pounds to 300 pounds, and are expected to disperse in an area of 500 miles.
Although the satellite will most probably hit north of Australia, there is a chance it could fall in the eastern half United States, somewhere in between eastern Texas, Michigan to Florida, reported ABCH News.
NASA has set up various 24 hour tracking centers to monitor the satellite’s path the ground.
Space fans can partake in the fun too; readers can track the satellite’s progress and location on a Fox News website ‘widget’.
NASA assures the public that there is no real danger in a piece of the satellite hitting a human; chances are 1 in 3,200, and satellite material falls into the earth’s atmosphere nearly weekly, with most pieces landing in the water.
Other infamous satellite crashes include SkyLab, which fell into Western Australia in 1979.
The only person ever recorded to be hit by a piece of satellite is Lottie Mae Williams in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her advice for avoiding a satellite chunk is to simply “run.”
