The 1400-kilogram BeppoSAX satellite is expected to break up as it enters the Earth's atmosphere on Tuesday evening, showering the area below its flight path with chunks of metal. Its equatorial orbit has been decaying since the satellite was switched off in April 2002.

A report from the Italian Space Agency (ASI), issued at 1105 GMT on Tuesday, estimates that the debris will hit the surface between 2035 this evening and 0517 on Wednesday morning. But they do not know yet where it will land.

After the satellite was switched off it became impossible to communicate with the spacecraft. Its location is being tracked with help from NASA, but it cannot be steered.

The satellite's orbit tracks the equator. This means debris could land anywhere around the 40,000 kilometre circumference of the Earth, in a band 42 kilometres wide.

Agencies in the countries within this band - which includes some of the most heavily and densely populated in the world, such as Indonesia and Singapore - are receiving updates every few hours. Several have issued public warnings.

Full Article:
New Scientist