Korea's Science Ministry warns of falling satellite debris on peninsula

The Ministry of Science and ICT warned that the retired U.S. Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) could fall near the Korean Peninsula on Monday.

The United States' Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) [NASA]

The Ministry of Science and ICT warned that the retired U.S. Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS) could fall near the Korean Peninsula on Monday.

The ministry expects the satellite will reach Earth around 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. in the regions around the Korean Peninsula.

The ERBS was launched in 1984 and has been completing its mission to investigate how the Earth absorbed and radiated energy from the Sun, according to NASA.

On Sunday, the Science Ministry and the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI) had made a preliminary announcement that the satellite would fall to Earth between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday.

The time range was reduced to 12:20 p.m. to 1:20 p.m. as of Monday morning.

According to the analysis, the ERBS is anticipated to pass above the Korean Peninsula specifically from 12:50 p.m. to 12:53 p.m.

The ministry has set up a special team in the case of an emergency.

“The satellite is expected to completely burn up upon entry to the atmosphere due to frictional heat, but people in the regions where some remainders that do not completely burn may fall will need to be careful,” the ministry said.

“We will send out emergency disaster warning texts before the satellites are expected to pass the Korean Peninsula and advise people to be careful while staying outside and follow up on the news during the expected time range.”

BY BAE JAE-SUNG, CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]