Re-entry – Spaceflight Now

Out-of-control Chinese space lab expected to fall to Earth next year

September 23, 2016

China’s Tiangong 1 space lab, replaced by an upgraded human-rated research station launched last week, is heading for an uncontrolled re-entry back into Earth’s atmosphere in late 2017.

Re-entering Chinese rocket stage streaks across Western U.S.

July 28, 2016

A flaming fragment of space junk from China’s newest satellite launcher blazed through Earth’s atmosphere over the Western United States late Wednesday.

One last task for doomed cargo ship

June 22, 2016

With one last task to carry out, a space station Cygnus cargo ship loaded with trash and no-longer-needed equipment fell back to Earth Wednesday, hitting the discernible atmosphere 60 miles or so above the Pacific Ocean at nearly 5 miles per second.

Long-lived tropical weather satellite re-enters

June 16, 2015

A 2.9-ton rainfall research satellite fell into Earth’s atmosphere Tuesday for a destructive re-entry after a 17-year mission, according to NASA.

Rain research satellite ends science mission, heads for re-entry

April 9, 2015

NASA has switched off research instruments aboard the long-lived Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission, preparing the satellite for a destructive re-entry as soon as June and ending its 17-year run observing tropical cyclones from orbit.

ATV’s re-entry camera returned no images

February 22, 2015

A camera packed inside Europe’s Automated Transfer Vehicle failed to transmit images from inside the disposable supply ship as it plunged through Earth’s atmosphere Feb. 15 and broke apart over the South Pacific Ocean, the European Space Agency said Friday.