UAE Space Agency to study incoming space debris

The UAE mission will use private aircraft operating from Abu Dhabi, which will fly at an altitude of 10km in an area about 200km south of the site where the item is expected to enter the atmosphere.

The UAE Space Agency and the Abu Dhabi-based International Astronomy Centre have announced that they are organising a joint mission to observe the entry of what they believe is artificial space debris into the earth's atmosphere on November 13.
The debris - which is estimated to be between one and three metres in length - was discovered in 2013 by the Arizona University's Catalina Astronomical observatory in the U.S. Scientists believe the object will enter the atmosphere and burn out above the Indian Ocean just south of Sri Lanka.
The UAE mission will use private aircraft operating from Abu Dhabi, which will fly at an altitude of 10km in an area about 200km south of the site where the item is expected to enter the atmosphere. The plane will remain in the area for about half an hour as scientists use special equipment to study the object's behaviour, which researchers hope will allow them to better understand how items such as asteroid, meteors or man-made "space debris" enters the earth's atmosphere.
"The studies and data collected while this object enters the Earth's atmosphere will be invaluable for our understanding of near earth space objects movement and how they are effected by the various environmental factors," said Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, director-general of the UAE Space Agency. "It will also represent an opportunity to validate strategies for how a global early warning and response system for Space objects entering the Earth's atmosphere can be managed and coordinated in the future."
The mission will also include representatives from NASA and the European Space Agency, as well as from various international observatories and research organisations.
"Our participation in such space-related events comes in line with the country's strategic plans for the UAE Space sector, which aims at enhancing and supporting scientific research in the Space field," said Dr. Khalifa Al Rumaithi, Chairman of the UAE Space Agency.
""The Emirate's delegation and its participation in the observation efforts will highlight the country's position in the international space community, and support scientific discovery, which benefits the whole of humanity," he added.
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• Abu Dhabi