Look Out Below: The Fiery Reentry of NASA’s 1,300-Pound RHESSI Satellite

Look Out Below: The Fiery Reentry of NASA’s 1,300-Pound RHESSI Satellite

When a 1,300-pound piece of metal hurtles toward Earth from space, it naturally captures public attention. In April 2023, the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, better known as RHESSI, made its final descent through the Earth’s atmosphere. NASA announced the impending uncontrolled reentry of the decommissioned solar observatory, prompting questions about the safety of those on the ground. Despite the imposing weight of the spa…