Nine batteries released from the International Space Station on January 11, 2021, are set to crash on Earth on Friday.
"Most of it may burn up during the reentry. While some parts may reach the ground, the casualty risk – the likelihood of a person being hit – is very low," the European Space Agency, said in a statement.
The Space Debris and Independent Safety Offices of the European Space Agency are closely monitoring the reentry of a pallet of used ISS batteries and calculating estimates for when and where the reentry will occur.
"The reentry will occur between -51.6 degrees South and 51.6 degrees North. Large uncertainties, primarily driven by fluctuating levels of atmospheric drag, prevent more precise predictions at this time. The closer we get to the expected reentry window, the better the concerned region can be geographically constrained," ESA added.
As the object goes through atmospheric entry, it encounters air resistance and friction as it travels through the Earth's atmosphere.
Some debris may break apart or fragment during entry due to the intense thermal stress and mechanical forces experienced. This fragmentation can result in multiple glowing pieces visible in the sky.
