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A Chinese satellite reentered the Earth's atmosphere, creating an impressive fireball that surprised and frightened residents in the United States.
Um chinese satellite deactivated turned into a fireball in the sky over the United States on Saturday night (21), as it reentered the Earth's atmosphere.
The spectacle, initially mistaken for a meteor, left bright trails and may have thrown debris over the states of Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas and nearby areas.
The satellite in question was the GaoJing 1-02 (or Superview 1-02), part of a constellation of four launched by China in 2016 to image Earth from low orbit. Astronomers confirmed that the object began its reentry over New Orleans before disintegrating toward the north.
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An illusion in the sky
According to a Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer and orbital expert, the satellite was deactivated two years ago and has been losing altitude ever since. “Reentries like this are common, especially for smaller satellites that orbit at low altitude,” McDowell said, noting that objects of this size usually burn up completely as they pass through the atmosphere.
Still, the event attracted attention. The American Meteor Society received more than 120 reports of the fireball, which surprised residents in the surrounding area. affected. Although there is still no confirmation of debris found, scientists explain that fragments may be extremely small and difficult to identify as part of the satellite.
Radar tracks from Chinese satellite
The event was also recorded by at least four weather radars, according to Marc Fries, a NASA scientist who specializes in meteorite strikes. This equipment detected falling particles as the fireball crossed Mississippi and headed toward Arkansas and Missouri.
Fries explained that space debris can create large fallout fields due to its high speed. In the case of GaoJing 1-02, the particles were traveling at thousands of miles per hour, generating intense heat that likely incinerated most of the satellite.
An increasingly common phenomenon
Reentry of decommissioned satellites has become routine as the number of launches to low Earth orbit has increased. However, events like Saturday's rarely cause damage on the ground, as much of the material disintegrates before reaching the surface.
Cases involving larger objects, such as spent rocket bodies, are more worrying. However, even in these cases, most of the fragments usually fall into the ocean, minimizing the risks.
GaoJing 1-02 is yet another example of the complexity of the challenges involved in managing space debris.
Experts warn that the increase in releases could lead to more episodes like this in the future. In the meantime, the event provides a rare and fascinating spectacle for those who were in the right place at the right time.
