Phobos-Grunt probe reentry scheduled for January 15
The spokesman of Russia’s military space forces told Russian news agencies today that stranded Phobos-Grunt could fall to Earth on Jan. 15. About 30 fragments weighing up to 200 kilograms (440 pounds) are expected to fall to Earth. The $165-million Phobos-Grunt mission launched on Nov. 9, 2011, never left Earth orbit.
“As of Wednesday morning, the fragments of Phobos-Grunt are expected to fall January 15, 2012. The final date could change due to external factors.” Russia’s military space forces spokesman Alexei Zolotukhin
The military space forces’ monitoring center had earlier predicted in November that the probe, which is gradually descending and slowing down, would fall to Earth in January or February. The probe is now circling at an altitude of between 184 kilometers (114 miles) and 224 kilometers (139 miles) above Earth. The Russian space agency said in December that it expected the 13.5-tonne probe to fall to Earth between Jan. 6 and 19, but that it would only be possible to predict the exact time and place a few days in advance.
You can track Phobos-Grunt probe if you visit this sites: Heavens-Above.com / Sky&Telescope Satellite Tracker / Satellite Flybys /Real Time Satellite tracking
Date | Mag | Starts | Max. altitude | Ends | ||||||
Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | Time | Alt. | Az. | ||
8 Jan | 3.9 | 20:12:55 | 10 | W | 20:14:00 | 14 | NW | 20:14:19 | 14 | NW |
9 Jan | 3.9 | 19:45:36 | 10 | W | 19:46:44 | 15 | NW | 19:47:52 | 10 | NNW |
10 Jan | 3.4 | 06:45:31 | 10 | N | 06:47:03 | 21 | NE | 06:48:34 | 10 | ESE |
10 Jan | 3.7 | 19:17:29 | 10 | W | 19:18:44 | 16 | NW | 19:19:58 | 10 | N |
11 Jan | 3.6 | 06:17:17 | 10 | N | 06:18:41 | 19 | NE | 06:20:05 | 10 | ESE |
12 Jan | 4.2 | 05:50:01 | 15 | ENE | 05:50:01 | 15 | ENE | 05:50:48 | 10 | E |
Featured image credit: Roscosmos
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