WASHINGTON -- A 7,000-pound science satellite will fall from the sky this week, and NASA says a few pieces of metal could hit the Earth, although probably not in a populated area.

The space agency announced today that the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer is falling at the rate of 15 miles a day from an orbit of about 124 miles and should make a final plunge to Earth between 9 p.m. CST Wednesday and 6 a.m. on Thursday.

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer, however, does not have the on-board rockets needed to direct the re-entry. As a result, it will fall uncontrolled within a belt around the middle of the Earth stretching as far north as Orlando, Fla. and as far south as Brisbane, Australia. This belt includes such highly populated areas as Mexico City, Bangkok and Miami.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/space/1230334

I hope it makes a nice visual pass through my area (Orlando-Miami) tonight.

Cheers,

Marcia