Islanders may see MIR before its fall

HAGATNA (PINA Nius) — Guam residents may be able to see the Russian space station Mir several times this week before it plunges into the Pacific Ocean.

“This is the last time we will see it,” said Pam Eastlick, planetarium coordinator at the University of Guam.

Officials have said the date for Mir’s long-delayed demise may still vary, depending on solar activity, which expands the atmosphere and creates friction with the station. Mir has been in space for 15 years.

The controlled splashdown has been pushed back to between the 17th and 23rd of this month.

Although Guam residents won’t be able to see Mir’s final, blazing hurtle into the ocean, they may be able to catch a glimpse of the space station Thursday, Friday and Saturday, for a few minutes each night.

According to Heavens Above, a satellite-tracking Web site, residents may be able to see the station near the horizon shortly after sunset all three days.

“But all of this is subject to change because the … position is changing,” Eastlick said.

Eastlick said that residents may be able to view the passing of Mir from “virtually anywhere” on island.

“It is quite bright and easy to see,” Eastlick said. “It will look like a moving star.”

The remains of the space station are due to splash down into the Pacific midway between New Zealand and Chile.

Residents on Niue are likely to get a spectacular view of the re-entry.

Emergency Management Australia said Russian officials decided to allow Mir to drop lower before applying braking impulses. They believe this will increase control over re-entry.

The space station has made possible wide-reaching research into such areas as space life sciences, microgravity and space technology experiments, and earth observation and sciences.

The Pacific Islands Forum is seeking assurances from Russia that Mir poses minimal threats to Pacific Island nations when it crashes back to Earth.

“The planned final stages of the descent of the Russian space station to a zone in the South Pacific is raising serious concerns due to the uncertainties about when and where it will crash,” said Acting Secretary General Iosefa Maiava.

“We want to be fully informed about the timetable and pathway of descent, and we’re seeking an assurance that this activity is consistent with international safety standards and poses minimal threats to Pacific Island countries.”

Current information is the possible track is 100 kilometers (60 miles) wide and 1,000 kilometers long (600 miles), a Forum statement said.

The Forum understands from previous information provided by the Russian Aero Space Agency that the space station contains no radioactive or hazardous materials aboard. Most of the 130-ton station is expected to burn up in the atmosphere, with Russian officials attempting to bring it down in an area 140 degrees West, 47 degrees South, about 4,000 kilometers (2,400 miles) east of New Zealand.

Some particles are expected to survive re-entry, with controllers hoping these will land in the open ocean, away from human activity.

The Forum Secretariat is liaising with regional agencies and foreign missions as part of efforts to keep member states informed of developments.