EARTH'S ATMOSPHERIC TRUNK — More space debris is expected to fall re-enter Earth's atmosphere this week following the plummet of China's Tiangong-1.
According to Space.com, the rocket body of an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to fall to Earth around April 3. Part of a European Space Agency satellite called Ariane-5 is also expected to drop to Earth on the same day.
Fortune reports that Kazakh spacecrafts Flock 2E-3 and 2E-6 are expected to plummet to Earth on Wednesday and on Friday this week.
Popular Science reports that 200 parts of space debris fell to Earth in 2014, and 400 fell in 2016. Most land in the Pacific Ocean.
The only person known to be hit by falling debris is Lottie Williams. According to NPR, she was walking in a park in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1997 when a 6-inch chunk of metal travelling at a low speed struck her from behind. Scientists believe it came from a NASA second-stage Delta II rocket.
