A defunct Chinese satellite reentered Earth’s atmosphere on Sunday night, prompting over 120 reports of fireball sightings across several states, including Missouri. The SuperView-1 02, a commercial imaging satellite that had been inactive since January 2023, broke apart over the southeastern US, creating a spectacular display as it burned up in the atmosphere.
The satellite, originally launched from China in 2016, was tracked by astronomer Jonathan McDowell and confirmed on social media. Officials had predicted its reentry but could only estimate the timing within a two-hour window.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about space debris and defunct satellites in orbit around our planet. As the US and other countries continue to launch more satellites into space, the risk of these objects returning to Earth increases, posing potential threats to people and property.
Source: https://fox2now.com/news/missouri/chinese-satellites-break-up-over-missouri-dazzles-witnesses