US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) yesterday said, an American-Japanese spacecraft is anticipated to descend back to Earth on June 17 that might fall enter Philippine territory.
NASA said it cannot predict the exact time and location where the spacecraft will re-enter the atmosphere, but in a statement explained TRMM’s orbit brings it over the tropics between 35 degrees North latitude and 35 degrees South latitude, or including the Philippine’s.
The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) spacecraft has been hovering in the space for 17 years and has recently ended its mission, April 8.
The mission spacecraft was a joint mission of NASA and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
The spacecraft’s re-entry has been feared by space agency since it is unpredictable to where it would exactly fall.
“The U.S. Space Surveillance Network, operated by the Department of Defense US Strategic Command’s Joint Space Operations Center has been closely monitoring TRMM’s descent since the mission was ended in April.” NASA said.
Meanwhile, NASA added that most parts of the spacecraft will burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry.
“Of the spacecraft’s total mass (about 5,800 lbs.), 96 percent will never reach Earth,” the statement said.
H/T: Philstar.com