³ÉÈËXÕ¾

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Debris from SpaceX rocket streaks across night sky over Washington

Mar 25, 2021, 10:26 PM | Updated: Mar 26, 2021, 7:50 am

People looking up to the night sky got quite a show late Thursday night.

Observers wondered if they were seeing a meteor shower or a UFO.

Chance of snow Monday as opportunity ‘quickly running out toward April’

The it was “the debris from a Falcon 9 rocket 2nd stage that did not successfully have a deorbit burn.”

One astronomer also said that the Falcon 9 rocket failed to make a deorbit burn and is “reentering after 22 days in orbit.”

According to the NWS, manmade objects entering low in Earth’s orbit can reach speeds of nearly 17,500 miles an hour. In order for a spectacle like what the region saw last night to occur, objects must enter the atmosphere at just the right angle.

“If it’s too steep, they’ll burn up,” the NWS noted. “If the angle is too small, they risk ‘skimming’ the atmosphere like a stone on water.”

Meteors can move even faster, grazing the top of planet’s atmosphere at speeds of over 45,000 miles per hour. But because their angle of impact is so steep, they tend to incinerate relatively quickly.

The NWS said there were no reports of Thursday night’s debris making its way to the ground in the area.

MyNorthwest News

This pickup became wedged between vehicles on I-5 in Fife, after the driver tried to outrun state t...

Tom Brock

Washington State Patrol “Smokey” aircraft tracks down reckless driving suspects

A Washington State Patrol law enforcement aircraft helped arrest two reckless drivers overnight.

12 hours ago

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders says this DUI suspect refused to obey commands and assaulted ...

Tom Brock

Thurston County sheriff assaulted during DUI arrest

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders says he was assaulted by a DUI suspect who threw a drink in his face and grabbed him by the throat.

15 hours ago

Fatal crash involving fire engine...

Frank Lenzi

One dead after crash involving fire engine in North Seattle

One person is dead after a crash involving a vehicle and a fire engine, Seattle Police said. The collision occurred near North 128th Street and Aurora Avenue North. The driver of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. According to ³ÉÈËXÕ¾7 News, a Seattle Fire Department ladder truck was making a […]

19 hours ago

Image: Starbucks founder and former CEO Howard Schultz testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C...

Frank Lenzi

Howard Schultz encourages Starbucks workers to support new leadership’s plan

Amid declining sales, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is urging employees to support the company’s new leadership and turnaround plan.

21 hours ago

speed cameras...

MyNorthwest Staff

‘Want more speed cameras?’ Bellevue asks residents for feedback

Bellevue is inviting community members to provide feedback on a proposal to expand its speed safety camera program, aiming to eliminate serious traffic crashes.

21 hours ago

Microsoft...

MyNorthwest Staff

Microsoft lists dishwashers, roofers among jobs least threatened by AI

A recent Microsoft report highlights a growing divide in job security between blue-collar workers and desk-based employees amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). 

22 hours ago

Debris from SpaceX rocket streaks across night sky over Washington