Spacecraft down

Press, 5 November 1979, Page 1

Spacecraft down

NZPA-Reuter Washington

The remains of the United States spacecraft Pegasus II have disappeared without trace into the South Atlantic ocean, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Anything left of the 10,500 kg craft after it crashed through Earth’s atmosphere on Saturday had presumably scattered north-west of Ascension Island, far from any land, said a N.A.S.A. spokesman.

N.A.S.A. based its estimate on the fact that Pegasus had failed to make its expected showing over the Ascension tracking

station at 10.20 am. (New Zealand time). Pegasus, the largest space object to fall back to Earth since Skylab’s spectacular descent over Western Australia last July, had been in orbit since 1965. It monitored meteoroids until its power failed three years later.

Only about 1040 kg of Pegasus was expected to survive its descent through the atmosphere but if it sank in the ocean it seems unlikely that any will be recovered. The craft’s orbit could have brought it down over Latin America, the southern United States, Australia, or other land areas.