Saturday 9 November 2013

AGEING SATELITE RETURNS TO EARTH AS RUSSIAN ASTRONAUTS WALK IN SPACE by Benson Agoha


* GOCE Satelite in Orbit.

A satelight launched into orbit by the European Space Agency in 2009 has completed its mission and is not on its way back to earth.

The Gravity Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) was sent to space to study how the earths ocean looks and moves. The data the satelite carries also enable other satelites to monitor the earth's ocean.

ESA said, GOCE has completed its mission, trippled its planned life-span and after running out of fuel, has started an expected decent back to earth. It has been on this journey since October 21, 2013.

Satelites falling back to earth burn up into smaller debris and scatter as they fall. On re-entry into earth, the earths atmospheric pressure often break up the remaining parts before they reach the ground.

ESA said GOCE's reentry into earth is expected to be between Sunday night and early monday morning and it does not, as yet know where the debris will fall.

The Agency said at the time GOCE started its decent, it was at a height of about 224 km. Nevertheless, as the time or reentry into earth nears, it says there is no known immediate danger to the public.

In another development, Russian astronaults are today conducting a space walk on the International Space Station with the Olympic Torch which now visiting the station.

NASA TV showed live podcasts and said this marks the first time the Torch is being included in a space walk, and exposed to space's atmosphere.

The Walk was scheduled to take a total of 6 hours at the height of about 258 miles above the earth.

* Twitter: @bensonagoha.

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