A six ton Nasa satellite is set to fall uncontrolled out of orbit, potentially raining debris over swathes of the planet including Britain, the US space agency has admitted.
The $750 million (ã468 million) Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) satellite, launched 20 years ago to study climate change, is set to breach the atmosphere within weeks.
In a new alert issued this week, officials warned pieces could land in densely populated areas on six continents including parts of Britain, Europe, North and South America and Asia.
Nasa claimed the risk to public safety from the ââ¬Ådeadââ¬Â satellite ââ¬â which is orbiting just over 155 miles above the earth with an inclination of 57 degrees ââ¬â was ââ¬Åextremely smallââ¬Â.
But senior space agency officials admitted they were ââ¬Åconcernedââ¬Â about the risk to billions of people when it starts falling uncontrolled out of orbit at any stage from later this month.
Nasa admitted more than half a ton of metal from the satellite, which ran out of fuel in 2005, will survive as the majority it will burn up after entering Earth's atmosphere.
Scientists estimate the debris footprint will be about 500 miles long with a 1-in-3,200 chance a part a satellite part could hit someone.
While Nasa did not know the exact areas it will fall, the projected danger zone has been narrowed to areas between 57 degrees north and 57 degrees south of the Equator.
These areas cover six continents and billions of people and three oceans.
Full article with pictures: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...k-from-468m-satellite-falling-from-space.html
The $750 million (ã468 million) Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) satellite, launched 20 years ago to study climate change, is set to breach the atmosphere within weeks.
In a new alert issued this week, officials warned pieces could land in densely populated areas on six continents including parts of Britain, Europe, North and South America and Asia.
Nasa claimed the risk to public safety from the ââ¬Ådeadââ¬Â satellite ââ¬â which is orbiting just over 155 miles above the earth with an inclination of 57 degrees ââ¬â was ââ¬Åextremely smallââ¬Â.
But senior space agency officials admitted they were ââ¬Åconcernedââ¬Â about the risk to billions of people when it starts falling uncontrolled out of orbit at any stage from later this month.
Nasa admitted more than half a ton of metal from the satellite, which ran out of fuel in 2005, will survive as the majority it will burn up after entering Earth's atmosphere.
Scientists estimate the debris footprint will be about 500 miles long with a 1-in-3,200 chance a part a satellite part could hit someone.
While Nasa did not know the exact areas it will fall, the projected danger zone has been narrowed to areas between 57 degrees north and 57 degrees south of the Equator.
These areas cover six continents and billions of people and three oceans.
Full article with pictures: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/...k-from-468m-satellite-falling-from-space.html
