Mystery Of Missing Satellite Debris Finally Solved

By - 249 words

Language

Reading Level

Listen to Article

Last week, people all over the world fretted over the fact that NASA's 6.5 ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) was hurtling back to earth and the Space Agency had no clue or control over when and where it would crash land.

Everybody sighed with relief when the satellite finally hit the earth at about 12.00am EST on Saturday, September 24th and there were no reports of any injuries. Then began the search for the missing debris, since nobody had a clue where the satellite had crashed. After four days, the mystery has finally been solved.

Turns out that errant satellite did exactly what NASA had been hoping for, by falling in a remote part of the Southern Pacific Ocean, a region that is as far from population as can be possible! Though nobody actually witnessed this, according to NASA's mathematical models UARS apparently entered the Earth's atmosphere in the skies above the American Samoa. However, the debris that spread over a 500 mile-span scattered much further out, about 300 miles northwest of Christmas Island.

Phew! Now we can all get back to our daily lives, at least until late October or early November when a German astronomy satellite frefalls back to Earth. The good news is that at 2.5 tons, it is considerably smaller than UARS - The bad? More than 30 pieces of the broken-up satellite are expected to survive and hit Earth. Hopefully, this one too will avoid populated areas - Stay tuned for further updates!

Resources: popsci.com, news.yahoo.com

Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
228 Comments
  • etufoloverabout 13 years
    I love this information with great pictures. How come nobody mentioned NASA before the Satelite crashed? You got us all afraid from not knowing where it was going to fall, then you all started saying NASA had everything figured out and there was nothing to be worried about. Now you are all saying the same thing about the other Satelite from Germany. Don't play with our knowledge and don't make us be scared and then laugh about it. It is not funny. Thank you for the accurate information and the very clear pictures. I really like them.
    • peacemaker
      peacemakerabout 13 years
      I wanted it to go in the ocean!
      • daddy320
        daddy320about 13 years
        Awsaum!
        • joseabout 13 years
          It is amazing how the thing is going to crash to Earth
          • cassieabout 13 years
            no its not im scared
            • cassieabout 13 years
              whew i thot we where in big do-do though i am scared about the 2.5 ton satilite is gunna hit home .....literaly
              • NattlesCoreabout 13 years
                This is what im doing my current events on, thx for the info!
                • Katieabout 13 years
                  Cool
                  • karlyabout 13 years
                    wow very awsome
                    • Kaylaabout 13 years
                      a kid in my class did a current event on this then another kid did an updated one and now im glad i know all the facts because i was scared there for a moment!!!