German satellite re-enters Earth's atmosphere
October 22nd, 2011
04:29 PM ET

German satellite re-enters Earth's atmosphere

[Updated 10:54 p.m. ET] A defunct satellite has entered the atmosphere, the German Aerospace Center reported Sunday morning.

"There is currently no confirmation if pieces of debris have reached Earth's surface," it said. Up to 30 pieces of space debris could hit land or water.

[Posted 4:29 p.m. ET] The earliest possible re-entry of a decommissioned German satellite into the Earth's atmosphere was pushed back to Saturday evening Eastern time, the German space agency's website said.

The agency originally had projected Saturday afternoon as the earliest re-entry for the satellite, which could include up to 30 individual pieces of debris.

As of 4 p.m. ET Saturday, the agency's latest prediction narrowed the re-entry to a six-hour window during Saturday night.

"The largest single fragment will probably be the telescope's mirror, which is very heat resistant and may weigh up to 1.7 tons," according to the German Aerospace Center (DLR).

The time and location of the Roentgen Satellite's (ROSAT) re-entry couldn't be forecast precisely, and officials estimated the fiery event to occur any time between 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday and 1:30 a.m. ET Sunday, the agency said.

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Filed under: Germany • Space
soundoff (98 Responses)
  1. banasy©

    "The time and LOCATION of the Roentgen Satellite’s (ROSAT) re-entry couldn’t be forecast precisely...."

    Well, *that's* not good....

    October 22, 2011 at 4:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jeff Frank ( R - OHIO ) "Яight Wing Иutcase"

      40º15'121'N 151º16'10'W....be there!

      October 22, 2011 at 4:55 pm | Report abuse |
  2. ruffnutt

    Luckly my trailer is made of metal , and astroid proof

    October 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm | Report abuse |
  3. RUFFNUTT ( ELF SLAYER & BUGBEAR KILLER )

    if one pieace of sattilitte hits my camaro it going to be on!!!

    October 22, 2011 at 4:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jeff Frank ( R - OHIO ) "Яight Wing Иutcase"

      Dude. I'd be pis_ed.

      October 22, 2011 at 4:44 pm | Report abuse |
  4. RUFFNUTT ( kindergarden teacher )

    btw...just a thought... why doesn't the space shutle get these before they come down??
    .
    i figured they could recycle it like the m0eth heads around my place...

    October 22, 2011 at 4:40 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Jeff Frank ( R - OHIO ) "Яight Wing Иutcase"

    That would be a hell of a way to bust up one of those occupy meetings....Whoa! The cops wouldn't be able to charge anybody either.

    >>>This Just In<<<
    "Occupy space hit by Space Junk"

    October 22, 2011 at 4:41 pm | Report abuse |
  6. tif31

    Deflector shields up.

    October 22, 2011 at 4:58 pm | Report abuse |
  7. banasy©

    Thanks, Jeff Frank!
    Amazing how someone in Ohio can pinpoint that...

    @Ruffie:
    I haven't any doubt your Camaro could outrun it!

    October 22, 2011 at 4:59 pm | Report abuse |
  8. banasy©

    Right on, tif31.

    October 22, 2011 at 5:00 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    Why am I being censored?

    October 22, 2011 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Joey Isotta-Fraschini

    Thanks.

    October 22, 2011 at 5:14 pm | Report abuse |
  11. bobcat2u

    So they've got when narrowed down, but the where is still wherever.
    Don't you just love those odds.

    October 22, 2011 at 5:30 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Jeff Frank ( R - OHIO ) "Яight Wing Иutcase"

    40º15'121'N 151º16'10'W...not

    October 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • bobcat2u

      Thank god. That's where I work.

      October 22, 2011 at 5:59 pm | Report abuse |
  13. chrissy

    omg ruffie noooot the camero! wherever will have our baby concieved?? *_*

    October 22, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Report abuse |
  14. banasy©

    Shhh, chrissy, there are some who would think you're serious...
    Hey! Remember when we were all going to go visit Ruffie?

    October 22, 2011 at 5:42 pm | Report abuse |
  15. gung hoe AKA metal recycler

    Please lead me to the location of this falling space junk .I figure the metal that is on one of dem saturites wooden hav tu work agin

    October 22, 2011 at 5:45 pm | Report abuse |
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