NASA has announced that Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS), launched by the shuttle Discovery in September 1991, is expected to reenter the atmosphere within the next week. The satellite, 35 feet (10.7 meters) long and 15 feet (4.5 meter) wide, is unlikely to reenter over a populated area; however, 26 large pieces totaling about 1100 pounds are expected to survive reentry.

UARS was instrumental in monitoring the infamous hole in Earths Ozone layer as well as monitoring important data for climate change. UARS was one of the few satellites for Earth observation launched by the Space Shuttle and at one point was supposed to be captured by the shuttle and returned to Earth. Due to budget issues this idea was scrapped and NASA decided to extend the original 3 year mission by updating the ground systems and extended the mission to 14 years. At the end of the mission the Batteries were no longer able to be managed properly due to an on board fault and the mission had to be terminated. Due to the original concept of Shuttle retrieval UARS did not have enough fuel or big enough thrusters to do a controlled re-entry.  UARS is due to re-enter some time from 9/22/11 to 9/24/11 and NASA is updating it's web site as the actual time and location can be determined.