{"id":778533,"date":"2024-03-08T03:21:54","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T08:21:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=778533"},"modified":"2024-03-08T03:21:54","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T08:21:54","slug":"largest-object-ever-jettisoned-from-iss-to-make-uncontrolled-re-entry-this-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spaceweekly.com\/?p=778533","title":{"rendered":"Largest object ever jettisoned from ISS to make uncontrolled re-entry this week"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The International Space Station\u2019s (ISS) largest-ever discarded object, a hefty equipment pallet weighing 2.9 tons, is anticipated to make an uncontrolled descent back to Earth between March 8 and 9, 2024. Launched into space for a critical ISS power system upgrade, this pallet, loaded with nine old station batteries, will not fully disintegrate upon re-entry, with predictions indicating about half a ton of debris could survive the descent and impact the planet\u2019s surface.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The International Space Station\u2019s most massive object ever released\u2014a 2 633 kg (5 800 pounds) equipment pallet\u2014is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into Earth\u2019s atmosphere this week. <\/p>\n

According to official statements, the re-entry window is estimated between 12:30 UTC on March 8 and 08:30 UTC on March 9, 2024. Approximately 500 kg (1 100 pounds) of fragments are likely to impact the Earth\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

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Reentry of the EP-9 battery pallet jettisoned from ISS in 2021 is currently predicted (by Space Force) between 1230 UTC Mar 8 and 0830 UTC Mar 9. It will not totally burn up on reentry \u2013 about half a tonne of fragments will likely hit the Earth’s surface.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) March 7, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The pallet, dispatched into the void by the station\u2019s robotic arm, Canadarm-2, on March 11, 2021, was initially brought to the ISS by Japan\u2019s HTV9 cargo ship in May 2020. Its mission was to assist astronauts in swapping out the station\u2019s older nickel-hydrogen batteries for new, more efficient lithium-ion ones. <\/p>\n

This equipment played a vital role in a series of operations that saw 48 old batteries replaced with 24 new ones across six years, involving four supply missions from the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV) cargo spacecraft, 13 astronauts, and 14 spacewalks.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the largest object\u2014mass-wise\u2014ever jettisoned from the International Space Station,\u201d NASA spokesperson Leah Cheshier said in March 2021. This jettison surpasses the previous record held by the Early Ammonia Servicing System tank released during the STS-118 mission in 2007.<\/p>\n

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Picture of EP-9 after jettison from ISS. Credit: NASA\/ISS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The decision to dispose of the pallet in an uncontrolled manner was not part of the original mission plan. It resulted from logistical challenges and a backlog in equipment disposal caused by the failed launch of a Soyuz rocket in 2018.<\/p>\n

This incident, which forced an emergency landing for NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin, disrupted the schedule for spacewalks and subsequent equipment disposal. Typically, old batteries would be secured within an HTV and safely jettisoned to burn upon re-entry. However, due to the postponement of spacewalks and the phasing out of the old HTV design in favor of the new HTV-X cargo spacecraft, the pallet had to be discarded independently.<\/p>\n

Featured image credit: NASA\/ISS<\/em><\/p>\n

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