UARS Satellite Tracking Update: ‘Space Junk’ Continues Path to Fall back and Crash on Earth

According to a recent update from NASA on the status of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), referred to now by millions as ‘space junk’ which is destined to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere and then crash on the Earth, as of 7 a.m. Eastern time today the orbit of the falling satellite was 115 mi by 120 mi (185 km by 195 km). The space agency now predicts the satellite will crash to Earth sometime during the afternoon of Friday Sept. 23, Eastern Time.

For individuals in the United States there is no need to worry as NASA now says that the UARS satellite will not be passing over North America as it falls back into the Earth’s atmosphere.

Real time tracking is available at www.n2yo.com, but be warned that the site has been down due to the volume of requests recently. Realtime tracking of the International Space Station (ISS) and other orbiting satellites is also available from NASA at: http://science.nasa.gov/realtime-tracking/.

NASA will continue to track and monitor the satellite and will continue to refine its location for of re-entry as the final plunge back to Earth nears. The UARS has been in orbit for nearly six years on its mission of scientific study. While much of the satellite will burn up in the atmosphere, as it begins to collide with particles of atmosphere at over 17,000 miles per hour, some parts will fall to the surface of the Earth.

NASA will continue to post updates with greater frequency. Now less than a day away, satellite re-entry updates will be issued at the 12-hour, 6-hour and then at 2-hour prior to crashing back to Earth. Updates are issued from the Joint Space Operations Center of U.S. Strategic Command at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., which is tasked with tracking the hundreds of satellites and debris which currently orbits our planet.

Officials caution that if you find something you think may be a piece of UARS, that you should not touch it, but instead should contact local law enforcement.