[MIham] Massive X-ray Satellite Set to De-orbit

[Frank]

Space Weather News for Oct. 14, 2011
http://spaceweather.com

ROSAT RE-ENTRY: The ROSAT X-ray observatory, launched in 1990 by NASA and 
managed for years by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), will return to Earth 
within the next two weeks. Current best estimates place the re-entry between 
Oct. 22nd and 24th over an unknown part of Earth. ROSAT will produce a 
spectacular fireball when it re-enters, but not all of the satellite will 
disintegrate.  According to the DLR, heat-resistant fragments as massive as 
1.7 tons could reach Earth's surface.  Check http://spaceweather.com for 
more information.

LAST-CHANCE SIGHTINGS:  As ROSAT slowly descends it is growing brighter. 
During favorable passes, the satellite can now be seen shining as brightly 
as a first magnitude star in the night sky.  Local flyby times may be found 
using SpaceWeather's Satellite Tracker: http://spaceweather.com/flybys . 
Or turn your smartphone into a ROSAT tracker using our Simple Flybys app: 
http://simpleflybys.com .



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Performance.
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Believe that anything you can imagine,
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