A Chinese satellite, GaoJing 1-02, disintegrated over the US in a spectacular “fireball,” visible across several states, after reentering Earth’s atmosphere above New Orleans on December 21. The satellite, which was traveling at 17,000 mph (27,400 km/h), had been inactive since January 2023 and was not controlled by its operators.
According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, the satellite was switched off nearly two years ago, making it only a matter of time before it reentered the atmosphere. The American Meteor Society received over 120 reports of the “fireball,” with some skywatchers mistaking it for the Ursid meteor shower.
The incident is the second Chinese spacecraft to burn up over North America in recent days. A separate Chinese rocket, the Longmarch 4B, disintegrated above Puerto Rico on December 20, after losing altitude due to atmospheric drag.
It’s unclear whether any pieces of the GaoJing 1-02 satellite survived reentry. The incident serves as a reminder that space debris is becoming increasingly common and can pose risks to both people and technology.
Source: https://www.livescience.com/space/watch-chinese-satellite-burn-up-over-us-in-spectacular-fireball