A dead NASA satellite is expected to crash back to earth today. Most of the satellite will burn while descending but NASA warns as it is expected to land on someone’s head. NASA’s 270 kilograms RHESSI satellite will strike earth at around 9:30 p.m. EDT.
Chances Of Harm Are Low
NASA experts have warned that there is a 1 in 2,467 chance of the satellite hitting someone on the ground. Despite most of the satellite being anticipated to burn up upon reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere, some of its parts are expected to survive the process, which could pose a threat to human lives.
Future Challenges
RHESSI crashing back to earth has once again reminded the space officials about the increasing danger space pollution poses to humanity. According to the estimates of the European Space Agency, apart from large pieces of satellites, more than 1 million small objects are currently flying around our planet, posing a direct threat to spacecraft and space imagery.