Space Junk Coming, But Scientists Say Don't Run For Cover

04:38

September 21, 2011

An artist's concept of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) satellite in space. The 6 1/2-ton satellite was deployed from space shuttle Discovery in 1991 and decommissioned in December 2005. (NASA)

Some time between tomorrow and Saturday, somewhere between Edmonton, Alberta and Cape Town, South Africa, an out-of-service NASA satellite weighing 1,600 pounds is going to plummet to Earth.

Scientists say people have little reason to worry, the chance of anyone being hit is just one in 3,200. And the chance that it will hit you is one in trillions.

NASA: UARs Re-Entry Overview

Guest:

Kelly Beatty, planetary specialist and senior contributing editor for Sky and Telescope Magazine

This segment aired on September 21, 2011.