A Chinese satellite is burning up over New Orleans, sending fireballs into the sky

Hundreds of stargazers reported fireballs appearing over the southeastern United States earlier this week. But this was not a natural phenomenon, just another case of dead satellites littering Earth’s orbit.

The fireworks came from a defunct Chinese satellite that re-entered Earth’s atmosphere Saturday night and burned up over New Orleans, Louisiana. The satellite’s return led to bright streaks appearing across the sky over several states, including Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi, according to reports shared online. Although the satellite did not pose a threat to onlookers, its uncontrolled re-entry into the atmosphere highlights the need for better regulation of non-functional space junk.

🚨Update: The Chinese observation satellite enters the Earth’s atmosphere over New Orleans, Louisiana!pic.twitter.com/UGyp8Tx5dz

– US Civil Defense News (@CaptCoronado) December 22, 2024

The American Meteor Society received 152 witnesses Reports of fireball sightings around 11 p.m. ET on December 22, but dismissed the event as “not a real fireball.” Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell later identified the source of the fireball as China’s SuperView 1-02 imaging satellite, which returned to New Orleans before heading north. books On X.

GJ1-02 orbit rise date, the Chinese who returned to the United States sat last night pic.twitter.com/RrjEncYdvF

– Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) December 22, 2024

SuperView 1-02 is operated by Beijing-based SpaceView and was launched in December 2016 as one of two satellites belonging to a civil remote sensing constellation. The two satellites are the first Chinese satellites to image the Earth in high resolution, according to the Xinhua News Agency. Space.com website. They were initially placed in the wrong orbit, ended up in an elliptical orbit instead of a circular orbit, and had to gradually raise their orbit over time to begin their mission.

SuperView 1-02 was taken out of service about two years ago, left to re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner. Some satellite operators equip spacecraft with the ability to perform controlled re-entries in order to reduce risks, but China is known for Bad tropical etiquette. The South China Morning Post downplayed the significance of the incident. Preparing reports The return of the satellite “created a stunning light show but did not pose any real danger,” adding that “the event was unintended.”

Defunct satellites wandering around Earth’s orbit are at risk of colliding with other spacecraft. There are currently more than 27,000 pieces of orbital debris tracking By the Department of Defense’s Global Space Surveillance Network, with lots of smaller pieces as well Float undetected. Moving at high speeds, even small pieces of material, e.g MicrometeoritesIt could endanger active spacecraft in orbit.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is developing ways to improve spacecraft return capabilities to help reduce orbital debris. the Destructive Reentry Evaluation Container Object (DRACO)The satellite, which will be launched in 2027, is designed to collect data as it returns through Earth’s atmosphere after a short-duration mission. A better understanding of the science of reentry could help scientists design future spacecraft that don’t risk damaging other machines in space when they are decommissioned.