- A retired NASA satellite is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere this weekend, the agency said.
- The satellite was launched aboard Challenger in 1984 by Sally Ride, the first US woman in space.
- The Defense Department estimated the 5,400-pound satellite would return Sunday evening.
Loading Something is loading.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while on the go. download the app
A satellite that has been in orbit since the 1980s is expected to return to Earth on Sunday evening, NASA said, noting that the chance of being hit by falling debris was “very low”.
Most parts of the retired Earth Radiation Satellite (ERBS) will burn up on re-entry, and NASA puts the odds of being hit by surviving pieces at 1 in 9,400, the space agency said in a statement.
NASA’s retired Earth Radiation Satellite (ERBS) is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in early January. Courtesy of NASA.
While the Defense Department estimated the 5,400-pound satellite would return around 6:40 p.m. EST Sunday, more or less 5 p.m., other companies such as Aerospace Corp. predict the satellite will appear Monday morning with a 13-hour margin of error, according to the Associated Press.
On October 5, 1984, the satellite was launched aboard the space shuttle Challenger, launched into orbit by the shuttle’s robotic arm piloted by Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, according to The AP. It was Ride’s second and last trip into space before her death in 2012, according to the publication.
The satellite was only expected to operate for two years, but it remained in service until it was retired in 2005, according to a NASA press release. ERBS carried instruments and made ozone-related measurements to help track climate health and weather patterns, according to the agency.
Specifically, ERBS conducted the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment II, known as SAGE II, which provided data that confirmed concerns about ozone depletion, according to a NASA press release. A follow-up experiment, known as SAGE III, is currently collecting similar data on the ozone layer from the International Space Station, according to the agency.
Add Comment