As of: March 8, 2024, 5:20 p.m
By: Sebastian Peters
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A large battery pack from the ISS is rushing towards Germany.
Dr.
Björn Voss, director of the planetarium in Hamburg, classifies the possible dangers of space debris.
Hamburg – On Friday, March 8, 2024, many in Germany will look skyward, but with mixed feelings.
The center of attention is a piece of space junk - more specifically, a battery pack from the International Space Station that was put into orbit almost three years ago.
Battery block as massive as a small car - massive object weighing 2.6 tons
This scrap is now about to enter the Earth's atmosphere, an event that raises the possibility that debris could land on German soil.
It is a situation that is not only fascinating but also worrying.
The battery pack in question, a massive object weighing 2.6 tons, was ejected from the ISS in March 2021 and has been orbiting our planet ever since.
Now it is about to re-enter the atmosphere, a process that raises the possibility that debris could impact in Germany or other parts of the world.
Dr.
Björn Voss has been the new director of the Planetarium Hamburg since February 1, 2023.
He estimates the chance of an “impact” to be low.
(Archive photos/photomontage) © Mira Luna Geiger & Tranquillium.de
Despite advanced monitoring and calculations, the exact crash site remains uncertain, increasing tension and concern about possible consequences for the population and the earth's surface.
Dr.
Björn Voss, director of the planetarium in Hamburg, rates the danger as “very low”.
Space junk is heading for Germany – This disposal method is normal in space
According to the director, it is more likely to be injured in traffic before being hit by space debris.
The battery, which is about the size of a small car, was disposed of normally for space methods.
It was a typical waste disposal, explains the planetarium expert.
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Debris from the International Space Station (ISS) is expected to enter the atmosphere on Friday evening - map shows the location live.
© Satflare/UPI Photo/Imago
Space debris often orbits the Earth several times before burning up when it enters the atmosphere.
Most likely, according to Dr.
Voss, the battery burns up completely before it can hit the ground.
But it is not entirely impossible that parts will reach Earth.
If pieces of space debris reach the ground, experts recommend not touching them.
If debris even damages houses or cars, NASA would have to pay for the damage, explains the expert.
“Maybe we need to write to President Biden asking for reimbursement,” says Dr.
Voss.
Probably not battery rain from space – experts speak of star-scale rain
But there will be no “battery rain”.
The director explains that more of a shower of star scales is possible.
Nevertheless, there is an increased risk of impacts in parts of Lower Saxony, reports
kreiszeitung.de
.
Parts of Hesse and Frankfurt also belong to the “endangered corridor”.
If pieces reach Earth, the space debris will have an impact speed of approximately 200 to 300 kilometers per hour.
But you don't have to wear a protective helmet, says the expert.
The risk of being hit is extremely low.