NASA’s 1300-pound satellite expected to fall on Earth today

NASA’s Van Allen Probe A satellite is expected to crash into the Earth’s atmosphere on March 10. The weight of the spacecraft would be over 1300 pounds.

On March 9, NASA stated that its Vallen Allen Probe A satellite  is expected to re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere after 14 years since its launch. The satellite weighing over 1300 pounds is expected to re-enter in the  atmosphere at approximately 7.45 pm EDT on March 10. Most parts of the satellite will burn up as it travels through the atmosphere, but some parts  will fall, NASA believes. The risk of harm coming to anyone on Earth is low, experts say.

Launch of mission

On August 30, 2012, NASA launched the mission named A  and  Vallen Allen Probe B to study, operate and gather scientific data from  those belts  that shield earth from cosmic radiation, solar storms and solar wind. Originally, the mission was designed for two years , but it remained for almost 7 years and after that the space agency ended the mission because the spacecraft ran out of fuel.

Managed by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, the mission has made major discoveries about how the radiation belt operates during its lifetime, including the first data showing the existence of a transient third radiation belt, which can form during times of intense solar activity.

Van Allen Probe B, the twin of the re-entering spacecraft, is not expected to re-enter before 2030, according to NASA.