Satellite Will Fall from Space in October

By by Elizabeth Howell, SPACE.com Contributor | SPACE.com

A European satellite is facing a fiery doom next month, when it is expected to begin falling from space to end a successful mission to map Earth's gravity. The spacecraft runs out of fuel in October, but exactly when and where it will fall to Earth isn't yet known.

The fiery re-entry of the Gravity field and steady-state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) satellite, which the European Space Agency has billed as the "the Ferrari of space," will occur about two or three weeks after the , ESA officials said.

"The affected area will be narrowed down closer to the time of re-entry," ESA officials explained in a statement. "Taking into account that two-thirds of Earth are covered by oceans and vast areas are thinly populated, the danger to life or property is very low." [ ]

About 40 metric tons of human-made space debris rains on to Earth every year, but the risk of any of it hitting somebody is lower than being smacked by a meteorite, ESA added.

The $450 million launched in March 2009, with ESA dubbing it "the Ferrari of space" due to the satellite's aerodynamic design, which was required to counteract the drag of atmospheric particles whizzing by in its low orbit around Earth. The satellite skims above Earth at an altitude of just 139 miles (224 kilometers). By comparison, the International Space Station orbits at about 249 miles (400 kilometers).

The satellite was designed to work for two years, and in that timeframe it produced the most accuratemodel of Earth's gravityfieldever seen. GOCE also produced the first high-resolution map of the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle.

Most of the satellite is expected to disintegrate in the Earth's atmosphere, but ESA said some large pieces could reach the surface. Its space debris office is monitoring the satellite's orbit and will provide risk assessments and re-entry predictions closer to GOCE's expected fall from orbit.

There have been several instances of human-made space objects falling back to Earth.

In 2011, for example, global attention focused on the demise of NASA's defunct Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS), which hit the Pacific Ocean. in 1979, and Russia's Mir space station reportedly generated sonic booms in 2001 as it fell in the ocean within sight of beachgoers in Fiji. 


SOURCE: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ferrari-space-doomed-satellite-fall-space-october-191125731.html

Blobfish voted 'world's ugliest animal'

1. The unfortunately named blobfish, the world's most miserable-looking fish who is now in danger of being wiped out. The blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad thanks to its miserable mush. The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 900m making it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increasing fishing of the seas Down Under the fish is being dragged up with other catches. Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish unluckily lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster. (Credit Image: © Kerryn Parkinson/ NORFANZ/Caters News/ZUMA Press) 

2. The unfortunately named blobfish, the world's most miserable-looking fish who is now in danger of being wiped out. The blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad thanks to its miserable mush. The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 900m making it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increasing fishing of the seas Down Under the fish is being dragged up with other catches. Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish unluckily lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster. (Credit Image: © Kerryn Parkinson/ NORFANZ/Caters News/ZUMA  Press) 

3. The unfortunately named blobfish, the world's most miserable-looking fish who is now in danger of being wiped out. The blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad thanks to its miserable mush. The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 900m making it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increasing fishing of the seas Down Under the fish is being dragged up with other catches. Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish unluckily lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster. (Credit Image: © Kerryn Parkinson/ NORFANZ/Caters News/ZUMA Press) 

4. The greater short-horned lizard lives in desert areas of Canada, and fends off enemies by shooting blood out of its eyes. It is endangered in Saskatchewan and Alberta. (Photo courtesy Parks Canada) 

5. The Flightless Dung Beetle is dependent on elephants and buffaloes, consuming their dung for sustenance. 

6. The Kakapo (stuffed one shown in this picture) is a flightless parrot in New Zealand. Because of its evolutionary process, it hasn't developed fear against its predators, meaning the world's heaviest parrot very susceptible to other hungry animals. Carnegie Museum of Art - Museum of Natural History, Kakapo 

7. The Pig-Nosed Turtle evolved from land animals, therefore it still needs to breathe air. Its pointed nose works as a snorkel, allowing it to continue swimming in the freshwater where it resides.  

8. The Titicaca water frog is known for its unique skin folds on its body, which actually help it store air and stay underwater longer without coming up to the surface to breathe. Image of the Aquatic Scrotum Frog of Lake Titicaca, from The Featured Creature via the Denver Zoo. 

9. The Dromedary Jumping Slug leaps by coiling its body, and releasing it like a spring. Image of the Dromedary Jumping Slug from Project Noah, photo taken by VivBraznell 

10. The Axolotl never reaches adult maturity, like other salamanders, which allows it to regenerate any body part if it is lost. Unfortunately, this unique ability has landed it in research labs across the world, with only a small number still living in certain lakes in Mexico

Source: http://ph.news.yahoo.com/photos/blobfish-voted-world-s-ugliest-animal-slideshow/axolotl-sunshine-aquarium-ikebukuro-photo-1379018450880.html

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2. The Proboscis Monkey's distinct nose is thought to be used by the males to attract females of the species. Living in Borneo, it can swim up to 20 metres underwater, making it one of the most aquatic primates.

3. While the bat pictured here is actually from Indiana, some of the 18 species of bats in Britain bear a similar resemblance. Each has a slight variation on the evolutionary features that have come in handy for the bats, including a protruding nose and large ears. Credit: Indiana DNR; Rich Fields

1. The unfortunately named blobfish, the world's most miserable-looking fish who is now in danger of being wiped out. The blobfish has already acquired a reputation for looking sad thanks to its miserable mush. The bloated bottom dweller, which can grow up to 12 inches, lives at depths of up to 900m making it rarely seen by humans. But thanks to increasing fishing of the seas Down Under the fish is being dragged up with other catches. Despite being unedible itself, the blobfish unluckily lives at the same depths as other more appetising ocean organisms, including crab and lobster. (Credit Image: © Kerryn Parkinson/ NORFANZ/Caters News/ZUMA Press)less 

2. The Proboscis Monkey's distinct nose is thought to be used by the males to attract females of the species. Living in Borneo, it can swim up to 20 metres underwater, making it one of the most aquatic primates.

3. While the bat pictured here is actually from Indiana, some of the 18 species of bats in Britain bear a similar resemblance. Each has a slight variation on the evolutionary features that have come in handy for the bats, including a protruding nose and large ears. Credit: Indiana DNR; Rich Fields

1.  of the most aquatic primates.