Phobos-Grunt Prevision to Reentry in November 26th ?

From: Carlos Bella (carlos.apodman@gmail.com)
Date: Sat Nov 12 2011 - 01:44:35 UTC

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    Itīs the end of hope and the beginning of the concerns ?
    
    *"November 11 developments*
    
    All efforts to contact Phobos-Grunt proved futile and the attention of the
    press was quickly switching to the inevitable uncontrolled reentry of the
    spacecraft into the Earth atmosphere, expected sometimes from the end of
    November to the middle of December. NORAD reportedly projected the reentry
    of the spacecraft on November 26.
    
    According to known technical specifications of the Phobos-Grunt
    mission<http://www.russianspaceweb.com/phobos_grunt_design.html>,
    the 13-ton vehicle contains more than 10 tons of toxic propellants -
    unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (fuel) and nitrogen tetroxide (oxidizer).
    Although most of the fuel and oxidizer would burn during the initial phase
    of reentry, the size and mass of the spacecraft practically guarantees that
    surviving metal debris would reach the Earth surface. In addition, a
    capsule for soil samples designed to survive a hard landing would be
    reentering alongside the spacecraft. Due to its insulated design, the
    capsule would likely be torn off from the rest of the vehicle early into
    the reentry and its impact would likely take place away from the rest of
    the debris along the reentry path. The crash could take place anywhere from
    51.4 degrees North latitude to 51.4 degrees South latitude."
    source: http://www.russianspaceweb.com/phobos_grunt_launch.html#11_11
    
    
    Carlos Bella
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