* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: UARS satellite re-entry

Blobrana · L

Experts had suggested that NASA take 6-ton unit from orbit with one of their shuttles. But the idea was never implemented. Moreover, the incapacitated satellite was damaged by an unknown object. According to the Americans, it was a fragment of the Soviet satellite "Kosmos-1275". Either way, it still remains an American satellite falling to Earth.
Read more (Russian)

Blobrana · L

The actual date of re-entry is difficult to predict because it depends on solar flux and the spacecraft's orientation as its orbit decays. As re-entry draws closer, predictions on the date will become more reliable.
As of Sept. 7, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 250 km by 280 km with an inclination of 57 degrees. Because the satellite's orbit is inclined 57 degrees to the equator, any surviving components of UARS will land within a zone between 57 degrees north latitude and 57 degrees south latitude. It is impossible to pinpoint just where in that zone the debris will land, but NASA estimates the debris footprint will be about 500 miles long.
Read more

Blobrana · L

Update:
The UARS satellite is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on (or after) the 16th September, 2011 @ - GMT ± - hours.

UARS
1 21701U 91063B   11250.46634873  .00325526  57944-4  47533-3 0  5582
2 21701 056.9531 342.0291 0023925 354.4556 005.6255 16.04127248106494

Period:       89.77 minutes
Inclination: 56.95°
Apogee:     279 km
Perigee:     247 km
Revolution Number: -
Predicted Location: -

Blobrana · L

NASA Announces Media Teleconference About Satellite Re-Entry

NASA will host a media teleconference at 11 a.m. EDT on Friday, Sept. 9, to discuss the anticipated re-entry of the agency's decommissioned Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS). Re-entry is expected late this month or early October.
Read more

Blobrana · L

Possible sighting location on the 17th September, 2011

Expand (28kb, 857 x 564)

Blobrana · L

Update:
The UARS satellite is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on (or after) the 17th September, 2011 @ - GMT ± - hours.

UARS
1 21701U 91063B   11249.46908110  .00307171  52215-4  46672-3 0  5550
2 21701 056.9536 346.7306 0024118 352.7381 007.3341 16.03476404106337

Period:       89.80 minutes
Inclination: 56.95°
Apogee:     281 km
Perigee:     249 km
Revolution Number: -
Predicted Location: -

paulrho · New

Do we have an updated prediction of this large satellite reentry?

Blobrana · L

Update:
The UARS satellite is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on the 19th September, 2011 @ - GMT ± - hours.

UARS
1 21701U 91063B   11230.71578331  .00121857  16321-4  29390-3 0  4994
2 21701 056.9562 074.5345 0019399 314.9822 044.9411 15.95957642103330

Period:       90.24 minutes
Inclination: 56.96°
Apogee:     299 km
Perigee:     273 km
Revolution Number: -
Predicted Location: -

Blobrana · L

The UARS satellite that was launched on the 12th September, 1991, from the Space Shuttle mission, STS-48, is predicted to re-enter the Earths atmosphere on the 17th September, 2011 @ - GMT ± - hours.

UARS
1 21701U 91063B   11201.52872866  .00088690  13219-4  30183-3 0  4375
2 21701 056.9569 209.8768 0018891 250.6596 109.2438 15.89637956 98680

Period:       90.59 minutes
Inclination: 56.96°
Apogee:     316 km
Perigee:     291 km
Size:    15 m
Revolution Number: -
Predicted Location: -