US confirms breakup of decommissioned weather satellite

US confirms breakup of decommissioned weather satellite US decommissioned weather satellite NOAA-17 has exploded in space, breaking into 16 pieces, the 18th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) of the US Space Force said on Friday, Report informs, citing RIA Novosti.
Interesting
March 19, 2021 11:36
US confirms breakup of decommissioned weather satellite

US decommissioned weather satellite NOAA-17 has exploded in space, breaking into 16 pieces, the 18th Space Control Squadron (SPCS) of the US Space Force said on Friday, Report informs, citing RIA Novosti.

"#18SPCS has confirmed the breakup of NOAA 17 ... on March 10, 2021, at 0711 UTC. NOAA 17 was decommissioned in 2013. Tracking 16 associated pieces – no indication caused by collision," the squadron wrote on Twitter.

According to the space force, the satellite was in orbit with a maximum altitude of 817 kilometers (507 miles) before it exploded. The squadron did not specify whether the debris poses any threat to operating satellites.

NOAA-17 was launched back in June 2002. Similar-type satellites have already been destroyed in space due to onboard batteries explosion.

Latest news

Orphus sistemi