In the previous blog post we read about some of the satellites that have re entered the Earth’s atmosphere. It may seem like a waste of the science project for it to end up in little broken down fragments all over the Earth. However what we are trying to ascertain is if the fiery end of these monuments of science is dangerous to the denizens of earth.

Saturn S-II-13 was not exactly a satellite but the second stage used on the massive Saturn V rocket, famous for launching Apollo astronauts to the moon. This 49 metric ton projectile had a free fall, uncontrolled re entry into the atmosphere of the Earth on January 11, 1975 over the Atlantic Ocean. There were no known casualties.

The Cosmos 1402 was a nuclear spy satellite. The 4 metric ton satellite fell to the earth on January 23, 1983 in an uncontrolled re entry. It broke up over the Indian Ocean. Satellite nuclear reactors are usually jettisoned to a safe parking orbit when the satellites re enter the atmosphere but this did not happen in this case.

Mars 96 was a Russian Mars probe that was meant to send four probes to Mars. The science project mission was a disaster and the satellite fell to earth in an uncontrolled re entry on November 17, 1996. The 7 metric ton weight of the satellite was demolished as it entered over South America. Parts of the fragmented satellite fell in Bolivia, Chile, and the Pacific Ocean. No parts of the spacecraft, including its 200 grams of plutonium-238 fuel was recovered.