2011-09-01



http://science.nasa.gov/missions/uars/
http://umpgal.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (Wikipedia)

The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite is a now defunct (and passivated) satellite in orbit around the Earth. The major portion of the 5.7 metric tonne satellite is due for re-entry between 17 and 30 September 2011. The majority of this satellite will burn up on re-entry, however there will be fall-out from this satellite. The track over which the debris will fall is around 800 kilometers (500 miles).

The inclination of this orbit is identical to the International Space Station - any region which can have a direct fly-over of the ISS has a chance of the re-entry taking place over it.

Re-entry and Break-up
Simulation predicts that UARS will mostly burn up in the atmosphere, with some parts surviving reentry and impacting the ground.  Objects such as titanium spheres survive the best through reentry.


Time-Line 
Predicting re-entry of any object is difficult, as an example; a recent solar flare caused the space station to rapidly loose 30km in altitude (over and above its normal decay rate). Depending on the F10.7 levels (and therefore air density) and the orientation of the decaying satellite, the current best estimate is only a range at this stage - with current most probable date around 26 September 2011.

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