NASA's Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite, or UARS, is expected to re-enter Earth's atmosphere in late tonight somewhere between +/- 57^o and not over North America. Re-entry is expected

Although the spacecraft will break into pieces during re-entry, not all of it will burn up in the atmosphere.  The risk to public safety or property is extremely small, and safety is NASA's top priority. Since the beginning of the Space Age in the late-1950s, there have been no confirmed reports of an injury resulting from re-entering space objects. Nor is there a record of significant property damage resulting from a satellite re-entry.

It is too early to say exactly when UARS will re-enter and what geographic area may be affected, but NASA is watching the satellite closely and will keep you informed. Visit this page for updates on the satellite's orbital track and predicted re-entry date.

As of 3:30 am UT Sept. 23, 2011, the orbit of UARS was 175 km by 185 km. Re-entry is possible sometime late tonigth (Sept. 23-24).

NASA can not predict where it will de-orbit, but the satellite will not be passing over North America during the expected time period. It is still too early to predict the time and location of re-entry with any more certainty, but predictions will become more refined in the next 24 hours

FOLLOW the re-entry an NASA Or track it real-time on heavens above