Asteroid 2022 UQ1 turns out to be space junk
A newly-discovered asteroid designated 2022 UQ1 turned out to be space junk.
Pieces of Chinese Long March 5B rocket expected to hit Earth’s surface this weekend
A massive booster from Chinese Long March 5B rocket, launched on July 24, 2022, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere over the weekend, with some of its pieces surviving the descent and hitting the surface. The rocket delivered the Wentian experiment module to China’s Tiangong Space Station.
Remnants of Chinese Chang Zheng 2F rocket re-enter the atmosphere over the Mediterranean Sea
A wide number of eyewitnesses in Spain observed a series of fireballs crossing the night sky over the Mediterranean Sea between 22:30 and 22:32 UTC on June 20, 2022.
Space junk burning up in Earth’s atmosphere over Johannesburg, South Africa
Russian SL-4 rocket upper stage used for the Progress MS-20 ISS resupply mission on June 3, 2022, re-entered Earth’s orbit over Johannesburg, South Africa around 20:55 UTC (22:55 LT) on June 5.
Starlink satellites falling from the sky caught on videos
Starlink satellites are falling from the sky after a G1 – Minor geomagnetic storm hit Earth just a day after they were launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on February 3, 2022. Preliminary analysis shows that the storm caused significantly increased…
Ariane 44L rocket launched in 1992 creates fiery spectacle over Brazil
The body of Ariane 44L rocket launched in 1992 re-entered Earth's atmosphere over Brazil at around 21:46 UTC (18:46 LT) on March 16, 2021, two days after schedule. The event created spectacular fiery scenery above the Brazilian state of Para and was mistaken…
Artificial bolide produced by the re-entry of the second stage of Falcon 9 rocket
A bright and slow-moving artificial bolide — designated SPMN160221ART — was recorded over the Mediterranean Sea at 05:57 UTC on February 16, 2021, by the SPanish Meteor Network (SPMN). The source of the event was atmospheric re-entry of the second stage of the…
Space debris entry recorded over Los Angeles, California
A piece of space junk, possibly parts of Delta II rocket launched back in 1989, entered Earth's atmosphere at around 06:23 UTC on January 30, 2020, and disintegrated over Los Angeles, California. The event lasted up to 20 seconds. It was recorded from Los…
Space debris re-entry over Florida on July 3, 2019
A Chinese CZ3 rocket body entered Earth's atmosphere around 06:16 UTC (02:16 EDT) on July 3, 2019, creating a spectacular show over Florida, U.S. The event lasted about 30 – 40 seconds. The American Meteor Society (AMS) received 23 reports by 17:30 UTC from…
Cosmos 2430 Missile Early Warning Satellite re-entry recorded over New Zealand
Russian Cosmos 2430 early warning satellite, launched 11 years ago, re-entered Earth's atmosphere on January 5, 2018, producing a spectacular show to all New Zealanders lucky enough to witness it. The object was first seen shortly after 20:58 NZDT (07:58 UTC)…