Failed Probe's Orbit Decaying, Most Will Burn Up On Re-Entry

The first pieces of the Phobos-Grunt probe launched by Russia November 9th will begin to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on January 15th, according to Russian space officials.

The probe was to have completed a mission to Phobos, a moon orbiting Mars. But communication with the spacecraft was lost after it reached orbit around the Earth, and Russian mission controllers were unable to boost it on to Mars. Its orbit has been decaying ever since.

Officials with the Russian air and space defense troops said the first pieces of the probe, which has been breaking up in orbit, should re-enter the Earth's atmosphere as early as next Sunday. It is predicted that most of the debris will burn up as it re-enters the atmosphere, but some larger pieces could make it to the ground. Russian defense ministry officials did say that the exact timing could be affected by multiple factors.

The spacecraft carries 12 tons of highly toxic fuel. If it has remained liquid, it would most likely combust from the heat of re-entry. But officials said if the fuel has frozen, some of it could survive the fall back to the ground.

FMI: www.federalspace.ru/?lang=en