Chinese satellite burns up over the US, sparks fireball spectacle
The GaoJing 1-02 satellite disintegrated in a fiery passage over the USA. Witnesses report a mesmerizing "fireball." This marks the second Chinese space vessel to burn up over North America within just a few days.
The Chinese satellite GaoJing 1-02, also known as Superview 1-02, uncontrollably entered Earth’s atmosphere over the United States on December 21. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, quoted by Live Science, confirmed that the satellite's components were too small to pose a threat, as they burned up completely in the atmosphere. This minimized the chances of any fragments surviving. The expert further stated that "the sat has been space junk and dead as a doornail since Jan 2023. This was an uncontrolled reentry."
The fiery end of the satellite was visible in several states
The satellite was sighted in the skies over several states. According to records, the GaoJing 1-02 satellite, a commercial imaging device, re-entered Earth's atmosphere at a speed of approximately 17,000 miles per hour. It flew over New Orleans before heading northward, passing over Mississippi, Arkansas, and Missouri.
GaoJing 1-02, also known as Superview 1-02, was launched at the end of 2016. However, for various reasons, its operations were halted nearly two years ago, leading to a natural deorbiting process, marking the end of its mission.
As the satellite disintegrated in Earth's atmosphere, social media users began posting photos and videos of the event. The entry created an impressive "fireball," visible in several US states. The event was widely captured in photos and videos, and the American Meteor Society received 120 reports from witnesses. Some observers mistook it for a meteor shower or meteors from the Ursid meteor shower, which was also at its peak activity.
This is not the first fall of Chinese space objects
This is the second time a Chinese spacecraft has burned up over North America within a few days. On December 19, 2024, a Chinese CZ-4B rocket disintegrated over the Caribbean. Eddie Irizarry, a NASA ambassador, quoted by Live Science, explained that the rocket gradually lost altitude due to atmospheric drag until it reached an altitude of approximately 70 miles over Puerto Rico, leading to its disintegration.
Experts emphasize that these incidents highlight the growing threat posed by space debris. Inactive satellites and rocket fragments present a potential threat to operational spacecraft and ground infrastructure. Consequently, international efforts are needed to limit space debris and develop effective methods for its removal.
