Italian satellite poised for reentry
Posted: Tue, Apr 29, 2003, 11:13 AM ET (1513 GMT)
An Italian astronomy satellite is expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere within the next 24 hours, and had the potential to shower portions of the Earth near the Equator with a modest amount of debris. The BeppoSAX satellite is currently predicted to reenter between 4:35 pm EDT (2035 GMT) Tuesday and 1:17 am EDT (0517 GMT) Wednesday. Given that large reentry window, project officials Tuesday could not provide a precise impact point for the debris that survives reentry. The spacecraft is in an orbit inclined 4.36 degrees to the Equator, limiting the band of possible reentry locations to portions of northern South America, central Africa, and the East Indies. The impact area is forecast to be 320 kilometers long and 84 kilometers wide. Within this region will fall approximately 42 fragments with a total mass of about 400 kilograms; the largest single fragment will weigh up to 120 kilograms. BeppoSAX was launched by NASA in 1996 to perform X-ray astronomy. The spacecraft completed its mission and was shut down one year ago.
An Italian astronomy satellite is expected to reenter the Earth's atmosphere within the next 24 hours, and had the potential to shower portions of the Earth near the Equator with a modest amount of debris. The BeppoSAX satellite is currently predicted to reenter between 4:35 pm EDT (2035 GMT) Tuesday and 1:17 am EDT (0517 GMT) Wednesday. Given that large reentry window, project officials Tuesday could not provide a precise impact point for the debris that survives reentry. The spacecraft is in an orbit inclined 4.36 degrees to the Equator, limiting the band of possible reentry locations to portions of northern South America, central Africa, and the East Indies. The impact area is forecast to be 320 kilometers long and 84 kilometers wide. Within this region will fall approximately 42 fragments with a total mass of about 400 kilograms; the largest single fragment will weigh up to 120 kilograms. BeppoSAX was launched by NASA in 1996 to perform X-ray astronomy. The spacecraft completed its mission and was shut down one year ago.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, March 30
SpaceX Targets Early Monday for Transporter-16 Rideshare Launch from Vandenberg
Santa Barbara (CA) Edhat — 4:29 am ET (0829 GMT) 'The crew is ready': Calgary-born astronaut to be voice link to Artemis II moon mission
Canadian Press — 4:27 am ET (0827 GMT) Smiths supports historic Artemis II space mission
Smiths — 4:26 am ET (0826 GMT) Meet Agasthya-1: Ex-Isro scientists are building a rocket to launch in 24 hours
India Today — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) ISRO to buy Semi-cryogenic engines to enhance LVM3 rocket; Funds allocated
WION — 4:23 am ET (0823 GMT) |
