Chinese satellite burns over U.S., sparks social media buzz
The GaoJing 1-02 satellite disintegrated during a fiery passage over the United States. Witnesses reported a mesmerizing "fireball." This is the second Chinese spacecraft to burn up over North America within just a few days.
The Chinese satellite GaoJing 1-02, also known as Superview 1-02, entered Earth's atmosphere uncontrollably over the United States on December 21. Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, quoted by Live Science, stated that the satellite's components were too small to pose a threat. They burned up entirely in the atmosphere, minimizing the chance of any fragments surviving. The expert also noted, "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 spotted in the sky over several states. According to available information, the GaoJing 1-02 satellite, a commercial imaging device, re-entered Earth's atmosphere at a speed of approximately 27,000 kilometres per hour, flying over New Orleans and then 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, due to various reasons, its activities were terminated almost two years ago, making the natural process of deorbiting an inevitable conclusion to its mission.
As the satellite disintegrated in the Earth's atmosphere, social media users began posting photos and videos of the event. The entry into the atmosphere created an impressive "fireball," visible in several U.S. states. The event was captured in numerous photos and videos, and the American Meteor Society received 120 reports from witnesses. Some thought it was 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 Chinese spacecraft to burn 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 113 kilometres over Puerto Rico, leading to its destruction.
Experts emphasize that these incidents highlight the growing threat posed by space debris. Inactive satellites and rocket fragments constitute a potential threat to operational spacecraft and ground infrastructure. Therefore, international efforts are needed to limit space debris and develop effective methods for its removal.
