Planetarium in Tangalle to observe space debris

The planetarium has set up camp in Tangalle and made arrangements to observe the debris of the rocket which is expected to re-enter the atmosphere and fall into the sea 62 miles off the Southern coast of Sri Lanka around 11.45 am today, Government Information Department said. A Science, Technology and Research Ministry press release stated that according to the European space Agency the piece of the debris about two metres (6.5 feet) long would be big enough to be observed from the land. A sizeable part of the rocket piece would burn off on release to the atmosphere and the remnants may fall into the sea. There is also a possibility for the entire part to burn off on reentry. The European space Agency assured that it is a rocket piece rather then a space object, by studying its orbiting speed and its density. Anyone hoping to observe this rocket piece should keep watching form the time ranging from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm on this day. Meanwhile fishermen in the Southern Coastal bell have been warned not to venture out to sea on fishing expeditions yesterday and today for safety reasons.