NASA satellite weighing 1,300 pounds set to crash to Earth today

A 1,300-pound NASA probe, the Van Allen Probe A, is expected to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere today after nearly 14 years in space, with an estimated re-entry time of 7:45 p.m. ET. Most of the probe will likely disintegrate upon re-entry, though some components may survive, with a low risk of harm to individuals on the ground. The mission, which aimed to study Earth’s radiation belts, exceeded its initial two-year timeline, operating for almost seven years and contributing significant data to the field before running out of fuel in 2019.

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