An out-of-control Chinese space station is about to make landfall anytime in the next few days in Michigan and the state is already on alert mode for a possible space debris landing.
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder activated the state's Emergency Operations Center this week in preparation for China's Tiangong-1 space station to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere around this weekend.
According to the Aerospace Corporation, the space station weighing 8.5 ton has the capacity to hit the southern lower peninsula of Michigan. Chances are still unlikely but the state wants to be more prepared just the same. The space debris, after all, may contain hydrazine, a highly toxic and corrosive substance. Anyone who comes in contact with it is duly advised to stay away and call 911 immediately for assistance and response. Ideally, everyone must stay at least 150 feet away from it, though it might be challenging to measure that.
The first prediction is that the reentry might fall on April 1 at 20:30 UTC plus or minus 8 hours, sometime between Sunday evening and early Monday morning. Experts say it is hard to pinpoint where exactly will the space station land.
The latest, however, is that the reentry would be on April 2.
The Aerospace is the government contractor that provides research, development, and advisory services to national-security space programs.
Said space station is China's first and was launched in September 2011. It offered sleeping accommodations for two astronauts before it started its uncontrolled reentry.
Experts continue to give assurances that "nothing really big is going to come down." They also say the U.S. has nothing to complain about since it also dropped its own on Australia before.
How much do I win if it nails my castle?
Been tracking the Tiangong-1 Chinese Space Station using a website that does it in real time.
I have noticed for the last 2 days it seems to dip down at its lowest AFTER passing the West Coast of Europe/Africa general area (140-160km) . Then returning to the 170km height range after passing China's East coastal area continuing this pattern across the Pacific and Atlantic.
I wonder if Red China actually worked out the Orbital Math, and used what little control they have.
To drop this thing in the Southern Hemisphere like the Indian Ocean or Antarctica Waters area?
If they could choose, they would drop it on new york city.