Everyone mark your calendar as NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite may crash back to earth at the end of this week. The exact date and time is still TBD, but early estimates suggest Friday will be the big day.
The U.S. space agency is now trying to confirm the point from which entered the atmosphere and the time it was done.
The satellite entered the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 18,000 miles per hour. Is the size of a bus and spent the atmosphere dissolved in 26 parts each of which weighs about 140 pounds, as warned by NASA, but experts can identify the precise points of the crash.
The orbit changed from NASA deliberately to cause the crash, but now because of changing atmospheric conditions the satellite was developed at breakneck speed, and "runs" to 5 miles per second, much faster than expected, and scientists say there is 1 in 3,200 chance of endangering man from the wreckage and that most likely is to open a hole on Earth the same size as the golf course, as published by the Daily Mail.
The vessel has a length of 35 feet and weighs 6.5 tons. Into orbit in 1991 to study climate change, while the operation was suspended in 2005. The satellite will look like flaming meteors rain as soon as it entered the atmosphere would take fire. Expected to decay into more than 100 pieces, but will break up while they were in the air. Of these only the 26 is the most heavy metal, was expected to crash to Earth, including fuel tanks made of titanium.
The representative of NASA Steve Cole said: "Anyone found a piece of the satellite should stay away and immediately called the police to take the case. It may be too hot or too dangerous. It depends on the speed with debris, but can go at high speed so as to penetrate a home. We will wait to see if debris will create the crater. If you have a spherical shape is very likely, but if you have a more unusual shape it might not have so much speed. " Also, Mr. Cole added that more announcements will be made today and will be posted on the website of NASA.
Most of the satellite will burn up in the earth's atmosphere, but approximately 26 pieces may survive re-entry. Make sure you have your camera ready as this flaming wreckage will put on quite a show. And don't worry about being hit by the falling pieces like Lottie Williams. NASA estimates there's a 1 in 3200 chance that debris from UARS will hit someone.
To find out where the pieces of UARS will land, you can follow the Heavens Above at NASA's website or track the satellite using an online tracker like Heavens Above. [Discovery]
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