U.S. Satellite Falling Towards Earth

The spy satellite, which is as big as a school bus and weighs about 20-thosuand-pounds, lost power.

It was launched two years ago to orbit the earth and take high resolution pictures of places the government wanted to keep an eye on. Because it lost power, it's now sinking lower into the earth's atmosphere.

Defense and Intelligence expert John Pike said, "By now it's down to not much more than 100-miles up and is getting closer to the earth every day by about half a mile."

Experts estimate the satellite is travelling at about 18-thousand miles-per-hour, and there's only a one in four chance it will land on the ground.

Copyright © 2024 KFSN-TV. All Rights Reserved.