spacetoday.net: BeppoSAX reenters over Pacific

Posted: Wed, Apr 30, 2003, 12:40 PM ET (1640 GMT)
BeppoSAX illustration (ESA)

The Italian astronomy satellite BeppoSAX harmlessly reentered late Tuesday over the Pacific Ocean, with any surviving debris landing hundreds of kilometers from the nearest islands. The estimated ground impact time of the spacecraft was 6:06pm EDT (2206 GMT) Tuesday, according to officials with the Italian space agency ASI. The location of the debris field is estimated to be several hundred kilometers northwest of the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific. The reentry had generated modest concern because about 400 kilograms worth of satellite debris was expected to survive reentry and reach the surface, including pieces as large as 120 kg. BeppoSAX was launched by NASA in 1996 to perform X-ray astronomy. The spacecraft completed its mission and was shut down one year ago.