German Satellite May Crash Into Earth in October
A decommissioned satellite could be falling to earth soon, and German scientists say that it may not burn up upon reentry. That means that the 2 ton Rosat satellite will crash into earth, likely between October and December of this year.
If the 2 ton satellite lands in a populated area, it could do a lot damage. But German scientists say that that is about as unlikely as winning the lottery.
DLR chief Jan Wörner said:
“It’s very improbable that people would be hit. A lottery win is more probable.”
Still, it is possible. There are hundreds of objects that enter earth’s atmosphere throughout the year. Most of them burn up. Others typically hit somewhere in the ocean.
If the satellite does head towards land, and not the ocean, the German government will have to ask for help in order to destroy the satellite before it makes landfall. Germany doesn’t have the technology to shoot down a satellite. They’ll have to turn to the US or China for help.
[Source: Spiegel]
