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Air & Space

Huge Tumbling Satellite Expected to Fall to Earth Friday Night, NASA Says

Falling Satellite UARS

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is seen in the grasp of a robotic arm during deployment from the space shuttle in September, 1991. NASA's old research satellite came crashing down through the atmosphere Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 -- though where exactly may never be known. (AP Photo/NASA)


The old research spacecraft was targeted to crash through the atmosphere sometime Friday night or early Saturday, putting Canada and Africa in the potential crosshairs, although most of the satellite should burn up during re-entry. The United States wasn't entirely out of the woods; the possible strike zone skirted Washington state.





On Friday night, NASA said it expected the satellite to come crashing down between 11:45 p.m. and 12:45 a.m. EDT Saturday. It was going to be passing over the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans at that time, as well as Canada and Africa.

















Some 26 pieces of the UARS satellite -- representing 1,200 pounds of heavy metal -- are expected to rain down somewhere. The biggest surviving chunk should be no more than 300 pounds.

Earthlings can take comfort in the fact that no one has ever been hurt by falling space junk -- to anyone's knowledge -- and there has been no serious property damage. NASA put the chances that somebody somewhere on Earth would get hurt at 1-in-3,200. But any one person's odds of being struck were estimated at 1-in-22 trillion, given there are 7 billion people on the planet.


In any case, finders definitely aren't keepers.

Any surviving wreckage belongs to NASA, and it is against the law to keep or sell even the smallest piece. There are no toxic chemicals on board, but sharp edges could be dangerous, so the space agency is warning the public to keep hands off and call police.




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The Associated Press and contributed to this report.