On alert for satellite crash: One in 3,200 chance a person will be hit by 18,000mph out-of-control craft today
By the time you read this, somewhere out there an out-of-control satellite may have already crashed to Earth.
Last night Nasa was preparing for its research craft to re-enter our atmosphere at 4.30am.
The six-ton satellite, which is the size of a bus, could hit any part of the globe including Britain hurling chunks of metal weighing up to 350lb across hundreds of miles.
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Tumbling to Earth: Images from astrophotographer Thierry Legault's video show the 20-year-old Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), appearing as a beaming mass of light
As night fell yesterday it was orbiting the Earth, passing the UK every 90 minutes and visible in clear skies asa bright light.
Its 18,000 miles per hour descent was being tracked by RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire.
Squadron Leader Ralph Dinsley said they would be updating the Space Operations Centre in High Wycombe throughout the night and the Government and emergency services were on standby if it appeared the UK was under threat.
The satellites final destination will be known just two hours before impact and even then Nasa will only be able to predict it to within the nearest 6,000 miles.
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An estimated 26 pieces weighing a total of 1,200lb are expected to survive re-entry into the atmosphere.
Incredibly, the plummeting satellite has been caught on film.
Astrophotographer Thierry Legault's clip, shot in northern France, shows the 20-year-old Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) - launched in 1991 to examine the ozone layer -appearing as a beaming mass of light as it careers to Earth.
Nasa orbital debris scientist Mark Matney admitted: We know it is going to hit somewhere between 57 north and 57 south, which covers most of the inhabited world, unfortunately.
How the satellite will fall to Earth
Danger: The six-ton Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite will crash to Earth and could land in Britain
However, scientists have ruled out the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite striking North America.
Its orbit was been altered by Nasa deliberately to make it crash but it is now coming down sooner than expected due to changed atmospheric conditions.
It is falling to Earth at five miles per second, faster than previously thought and experts say there is a one in 3,200 chance of someone being hit by debris more likely than getting a hole in one during a round of golf.
The 35ft Nasa craft, which weighs 6.5 tons, was put into space in 1991 to monitor climate change, and ceased operations in 2005.
The! falling satellite will look like a fiery meteor shower as it begins to burn up in the atmosphere.
It is expected to break into more than 100 pieces with most of it being destroyed before it hits the ground. But around 26 pieces are expected to make it through and the heaviest metal parts are expected to reach Earth, including titanium fuel tanks.
Nasa spokesman Steve Cole said: Anybody who finds a piece of the satellite should stay away from it andcall the police and let them deal with it.
It could be very hot or it could be dangerous. It depends on what speed the debris is going, but it could gobe going fast enough to go through a house.
We will have to wait and see if the debris creates a crater. If it is spherical that is possible but if it has a less regular shape it may not be going so fast.
Mr Cole added that more accurate predictions are expected throughout today and will be posted on Nasas website.
Debris routinely falls to Earth from space but the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite will be the biggest Nasa craft to fall uncontrolled from space in 32 years.
In 1979 Skylab, which was 15 times bigger, rained charred chunks on the Indian Ocean and western Australia after Nasa said it would land in South Africa.
In 2003 when the space shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry killing its entire crew, large chunks ofits shell landed across Texas.
To view astrophotographer Thierry Legault's website, clickhere.
Astrophotographer: Thierry Legault captured the incredible footage in Dunkerque, France on his Celestron EdgeHD 14in Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope
Junk yard in space: UARS is one of the thousands of objects in Earth orbit being tracked by Nasa, as shown by this computer graphic
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