Real Time Satellite Tracking of UARS
“The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) is an orbital observatory whose mission was to study theEarth’s atmosphere, particularly the protective ozone layer.
The 5,900 kg (13,000 lb) satellite was deployed in 1991 from Space Shuttle Discovery mission STS-48. The original mission life was to be three years. UARS originally orbited at an operational altitude of 375 mi (604 km) with an orbital inclination of 57 degrees. In June 2005, six of the ten instruments were still operational.
On October 26, 2010 the International Space Station performed a debris avoidance maneuver in response to a conjunction with this satellite.[1] The satellite is expected to fall from orbit some time between September 22 and September 24, 2011.[2]…”
McDowell said the satellite's delayed demise demonstrates how unreliable predictions can be. That said, "the best guess is that it will still splash in the ocean, just because there's more ocean out there."
So Jim, based upon this eloquent quote we can safely assume that satellite decaying orbits and reentry slopes are not rocket science? :)
Joe
Posted by: Joe Taibi | Friday, September 23, 2011 at 23:40