All articles tagged with #re entry
China’s Tianzhou-9 cargo craft re-entered Earth’s atmosphere in a controlled disposal at 7:49 a.m. Beijing Time, with a small amount of debris that survived ablation falling into designated safe waters, per the China Manned Space Agency. Launched July 15, 2025 from Wenchang to supply the Tiangong space station, Tianzhou-9 separated to its independent flight phase before re-entry.
Artemis II astronauts reported a smooth re-entry from the Moon with only light char loss on the Orion capsule’s heat shield shoulder; NASA said the shield performed as expected, adjusted the entry angle to reduce heat on future flights, and noted speeds during descent reached around Mach 32–39 before parachutes eased the capsule to a Pacific splashdown, with engineers set to review data ahead of Artemis III’s planned lunar landing.
Ahead of Artemis II’s planned California splashdown, NASA acknowledges known flaws in the capsule’s heat shield—a design linked to Artemis I’s crack, and lacking a backup shield. Officials say a modified reentry path and crew safety measures will mitigate risk during the 5,000-degree-F heat, which makes the final ~13 minutes of flight the mission’s most perilous phase. Experts including Charlie Camarda warn of possible catastrophe, while NASA asserts the shield’s overall thermal performance has met or exceeded expectations; the four astronauts have been sending personal messages home as they approach splashdown.
NASA says the 1,300-pound Van Allen Probe from the 2012 mission is due to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere around 7:45 p.m. ET (00:45 GMT) with a 24-hour uncertainty; it will mostly burn up, with a 1 in 4,200 chance of debris causing harm. The mission, which outlasted its planned two-year life by seven years, studied Earth’s radiation belts and helped identify a transient third belt; Van Allen Probe B isn’t expected to re-enter until about 2030, and NASA/US Space Force will monitor the descent.
A defunct NASA satellite, Van Allen Probe A (launched in 2012 to study Earth's radiation belts), is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in an uncontrolled descent around 7:45 p.m. EDT; most of the 1,323-pound craft should burn up, but some components may survive, with an estimated risk to people on Earth of about 1 in 4,200. Predictions carry roughly 24 hours of uncertainty. The probe's twin, Van Allen Probe B, remains in orbit, and this event underscores ongoing space-debris concerns as launches increase; debris typically falls over oceans due to most of Earth's surface being water.
NASA's Van Allen Probe A is on a planned re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere after a mission to study the planet’s radiation belts. The 1,323-pound satellite, launched in 2012 with Van Allen Probe B, is expected to re-enter around 7:45 p.m. EDT on March 10, 2026 (±24 hours); most of it will burn up, but some debris could survive. The mission, originally two years, ran for about seven years and yielded important insights into radiation belts and space weather forecasting, including evidence of a transient third belt. Van Allen Probe B isn’t expected to re-enter until around 2030. The risk to people on Earth remains very low, about 1 in 4,200, and predictions will be updated as conditions change.
Researchers using sensitive lasers detected a rapid lithium plume in the mesosphere–lower thermosphere and traced it to the February 2025 re-entry of a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, marking the first ground-based observation that re-entering space debris leaves a detectable chemical fingerprint. With orbital activity rising and megaconstellations planned, the study underscores the need for monitoring networks and regulatory action to understand and manage potential impacts on the upper atmosphere and ozone.
A mysterious charred object found in the Australian desert is confirmed to be space debris, likely from a Chinese rocket re-entry, highlighting ongoing concerns about uncontrolled spacecraft re-entries and debris tracking efforts. Authorities are investigating, and the public is advised to report any similar objects.
A bright streak across Montana's sky was caused by space debris, likely a satellite such as Starlink, burning up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, coinciding with the Perseids meteor shower but unrelated to it. No damage was reported.
NASA's SCIFLI team will support Europe's Exploration Company by capturing in-flight imagery and spectrometer data of the Mission Possible capsule's re-entry, parachute deployment, and splashdown, aiding in refining models and future capsule designs, with operations staged in Hawaii and involving a Gulfstream III aircraft.
Astronauts describe re-entering Earth's atmosphere as the most perilous part of space travel, due to extreme physical, technical, and psychological challenges. The process involves navigating hypersonic speeds and intense heat, with spacecraft relying on advanced thermal protection systems to prevent disaster. Despite technological advances, the psychological toll remains significant, with astronauts needing to maintain focus amidst sensory overload. This experience often leads to a profound shift in perspective, highlighting Earth's fragility and the importance of global collaboration.
A SpaceX Starlink satellite re-entered Earth's atmosphere, creating a fireball spectacle over the Southwest U.S., with sightings reported in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The satellite, launched in 2022, was designed to burn up upon re-entry to prevent space debris. This event coincided with ongoing meteor showers, leading to initial confusion among skywatchers.
Debris found in Western North Carolina has been confirmed by NASA to be from a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that broke apart during re-entry. The debris, which was expected to burn up, was discovered by local residents, prompting NASA and SpaceX to use the findings to improve debris modeling. Residents are advised not to handle the debris and to contact SpaceX for recovery.
Debris found in Western North Carolina has been confirmed by NASA to be part of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft that broke apart during re-entry. The debris, which was expected to burn up, has been found in multiple locations, providing valuable data for improving debris modeling. Residents are advised to contact SpaceX if they find any space debris.
NASA has confirmed that the mysterious object that crashed into a Florida home last month came from the International Space Station, specifically a stanchion from the NASA flight support equipment used to mount batteries on a cargo pallet. The 1.6-pound metallic alloy piece survived re-entry and impacted the home. NASA plans to investigate why the batteries and pallet, which were expected to burn up in Earth's atmosphere, did not do so. The incident highlights the dangers of space junk, with Earth's orbit hosting thousands of pieces, and may have financial consequences for both NASA and the homeowner.