Satellite is weeks away from hitting Earth

[Tirconnell]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A large U.S. spy satellite has lost power and propulsion and could hit the Earth in late February or March, government officials said Saturday.

satellite, which no longer can be controlled, could contain hazardous materials, and it is unknown where on the planet it might come down, they said.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified as secret.

"Appropriate government agencies are monitoring the situation," said Gordon Johndroe, a spokesman for the National Security Council.

"Numerous satellites over the years have come out of orbit and fallen harmlessly. We are looking at potential options to mitigate any possible damage this satellite may cause."

He would not comment on whether it is possible for the satellite to be perhaps shot down by a missile. He said it would be inappropriate to discuss any specifics at this time.

A senior government official said that lawmakers and other nations are being kept apprised of the situation
The largest uncontrolled re-entry by a NASA spacecraft was Skylab, the 78-ton abandoned space station that fell from orbit in 1979. Its debris dropped harmlessly into the Indian Ocean and across a remote section of western Australia.

In 2000, NASA engineers successfully directed a safe de-orbit of the 17-ton Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, using rockets aboard the satellite to bring it down in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean.

In 2002, officials believe debris from a 7,000-pound science satellite smacked into the Earth's atmosphere and rained down over the Persian Gulf, a few thousand miles from where they first predicted it would plummet.

[No_PaRoLe]

Strange that they have no idea where it will land but in 2002 predicted where that one would land. It was a few thoudans miles off but you would think we would have a little better technology to predict where now......

Where are the real scientist. I bet the Coders of the FTA unit could figure it out if you gave them enough information. LOL

As long as it does not hit the DN sat and land in my backyard, I dont care.

[Ashliegh]

i'm with no parole on this leave dn and bev alone and stay the hell outta my back yard and its all good

[conanenterprises]

it happens man...........my parents have a farm and one of their farm buddies wound up with a chunk of MIR in his horses pasture. This was in Lacombe AB, and as far as I know only the local paper did a story on it.........but im sure the records are out there somewhere................I shit you not