Fragments of a large Nasa satellite are expected to plunge back to Earth, though experts said the chances of anyone being hurt are extremely small. The satellite, weighing about 600 kg (1,323 pounds), is one of two probes launched in 2012 to study the Van Allen radiation belts, regions of charged particles trapped by Earth’s magnetic field. According to the US Space Force, the satellite, known as Van Allen Probe A, is predicted to re-enter the atmosphere around 7:45 pm EDT on March 10, 2026.
A NASA satellite is making its journey back to Earth, and scientists said there is only a 1 in 4,200 chance of injury.
As it hurtles back toward Earth, most of the spacecraft will burn up due to intense heat and friction. However, officials said a few sturdy pieces could survive the fiery descent and reach the ground. The Space Force estimated the odds of someone being harmed at roughly 1 in 4,200, as per the Nasa website.
Nasa and the Space Force said they are continuing to track the probe’s descent and may revise the timing of re-entry, which currently carries a margin of uncertainty of about 24 hours.
The probe now returning to Earth was launched alongside its twin, Van Allen Probe B, from Cape Canaveral August 30 in 2012 to study space radiation around Earth. Both spacecraft stopped operating in 2019 after running out of fuel. Originally designed for a two-year mission, the probes ended up operating for nearly seven years, collecting unprecedented data on Earth’s radiation belts before the mission ended in 2019 after the spacecraft ran out of fuel and could no longer orient themselves toward the Sun.
Scientists initially expected them to remain in orbit until 2034, but the trajectory changed over time. This happened due to increased solar activity. In 2024, researchers confirmed that the Sun had reached solar maximum, the peak of its activity cycle, which intensified space weather and increased atmospheric drag on the spacecraft, causing it to descend sooner than expected. However, the second probe is still circling Earth and is not expected to re-enter until later this decade.
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.
Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.
Get the latest World News, breaking headlines and global updates from the US, UK, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and other countries. Follow major international events on Hindustan Times.
Home/World News/Nasa satellite to crash on Earth today after 14 years in orbit: All you need to know
{{^htLoading}}
Advertisement
{{/htLoading}}
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
{{#usCountry}}{{/usCountry}}
Hindustantimes wants to start sending you push notifications. Click allow to subscribe
