NASA Satellite to Fall Back to Earth, With a Small Risk of Debris A defunct NASA satellite launched 14 years ago to study Earth’s radiation belts is set to re-enter the planet’s atmosphere on Tuesday evening. The Van Allen Probe A, a 1,323-pound spacecraft, is expected to plunge through the atmosphere at approximately 7:45 p.m. EDT, according to predictions from the U.S. Space Force. The re-entry will be uncontrolled, meaning NASA has no ability to steer the probe. While most of the satellite is expected to burn up during its descent, some components may survive the fiery journey. NASA stated the risk of harm to anyone on Earth is low, approximately 1 in 4,200. The agency and the Space Force will continue to monitor the event and update predictions as needed. Uncontrolled re-entries of defunct satellites, spent rocket parts, and space debris are common occurrences. The European Space Agency notes these objects re-enter Earth’s atmosphere almost daily. While most debris burns up harmlessly, some parts can reach the surface. However, the likelihood of space debris landing on land is rare due to the planet’s vast oceans, which cover about 71% of Earth’s surface. Predicting the exact time and location of such re-entries is challenging due to factors like atmospheric dynamics, space weather, and the satellite’s orbital decay. The Space Force’s forecast for the Van Allen Probe A’s re-entry includes an uncertainty of plus or minus 24 hours. The Van Allen Probe A and its twin, Van Allen Probe B, were launched on August 30, 2012, to study Earth’s radiation belts. These belts, known as the Van Allen belts, are doughnut-shaped zones of high-energy radiation trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. They shield the planet from solar storms, cosmic radiation, and solar wind.#nasa #international_space_station #van_allen_probe_a #us_space_force #van_allen_belts
