Huge Soviet Satellite Plunges Back to Earth
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KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — A massive Soviet satellite fell from its decaying orbit Saturday and plunged back into the atmosphere, presumably breaking up in fiery chunks as it streaked toward Earth over the south Indian Ocean.
Del Kindshi, a spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command near Colorado Springs, Colo., said Cosmos 1,767 fell to Earth sometime between 2:26 p.m. and 2:40 p.m. PDT, according to tracking radars that have been following the errant satellite for the last two weeks.
“It came in over the south Indian Ocean,” he said. “From the trajectory, it appeared to be heading northwest to southeast.”
Precise information on where any debris may have fallen must await analysis of radar data, Kindshi said.
There were no immediate reports of any sightings, and while some chunks of debris may have made it to the surface, there was little chance of personal injury.
Experts believe the satellite was launched July 30 atop a Soviet SL-X-16 medium-class booster, but it apparently failed to achieve the proper orbit.
Because of the SL-X-16 booster’s payload capability, the satellite may have weighed up to 15 tons.
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