Heads Up! NASA Uncertain Where Falling Satellite Will Land
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A defunct NASA satellite is plunging back to Earth today. But scientists aren't exactly sure when or where it will fall. KYW Newsradio's Mike DeNardo talked about that with commuters in Center City.
The satellite, the size of a bus, is expected to break into 26 large metal pieces as it reenters the atmosphere (see related story). The best guess is that the debris will not hit the US.
Good thing, because Darlene Daniels of Pennsauken isn't really ready.
DeNardo: "Did you wake up this morning wondering whether you'd be hit by falling space debris?"
Daniels: "No, actually, I didn't. That's kind of scary."
DeNardo: "You're looking up!"
Daniels: "Do you know what time this thing is going to be down here?"
DeNardo: "Sometime this afternoon, but they don't think it's going to hit North America."
Commuter Medina Clark says she'll be keeping an eye out, though!
"I work at night, so I'm not usually out during the daytime," Clark says. "Now I'm going to be watching the skies. I feel like Chicken Little. I hope an acorn doesn't fall on my head!"
NASA says the odds of any individual being struck by the debris are one in 21 trillion. Commuters say they're more concerned about the falling stock market than they are about a falling satellite.
Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio 1060
